No Marck Espejo still in SEA V.League Leg 2, since he will be locked in with the Kubota Spears Osaka in Japan this September.
Marck Espejo would not miss a historic moment for Alas Pilipinas.
Espejo was part of a jam-packed crowd that witnessed Alas Pilipinas cap off Leg 1 of their SEA V.League campaign with a historic bronze-medal finish, despite falling to Thailand.
[ALSO READ: News Sans Bryan Bagunas, Alas Pilipinas Men take SEA V.League bronze despite loss to Thailand]
The 27-year-old gunner was out of the opening leg of the tournament with a minor injury, but was proud to see Alas Men put on a decent run in the four-nation tilt that included an opening-day win over Vietnam.
“Masaya po kasi from last year na SEA V.League [na] fourth place, ngayon third place na sa first leg. Panibagong achievement pero malayo pa po, malayo pa pero nakikita naman po natin na meron po [at] marami pang pwedeng matutunan,” Espejo said.
It was the first podium finish for the Philippine men’s volleyball team in five years since the silver-medal campaign in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Bryan Bagunas was key to the first victory against Vietnam, but an injury during the game against Indonesia spelled two straight losses for Alas.
Espejo also revealed that he’ll miss the second leg of the SEA V.League which will be held in Indonesia to prioritize her overseas career in Japan. However, he is expected to return to the national team next year as Alas Pilipinas will be hosting the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship by September next year.
A five-team UAAP champion, Espejo still holds hope that all will be well for the rebuilding national team for the rest of the year. They are already off to a solid start under the new regime of Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni.
“I hope sa mga bagong coaches and system, maka-adapt lahat at magamit sa darating na World (Championship) next year."
In recent years, the four-time Spikers’ Turf best outside hitter and three-time Finals MVP played for Bani Jamra in Bahrain, FC Tokyo in Japan, and Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in Korea before returning to the country and joined the Criss Cross King Crunchers--leading the squad to a silver medal in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Watch the full interview here:
[With reports from Inna Mina/One Sports Digital]