Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam will contest single round-robin event
Thailand, fresh from winning their historic title at the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Chinese Taipei which earned them a final berth in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Qatar between July 27 and 31, will renew their rivalry with Vietnam on the opening day of the inaugural Men’s SEA Volleyball League, which will kick off its first phase in Indonesia on Friday, July 21.
The SEA (Southeast Asian) Volleyball League (formerly known as Asean Grand Prix) is a series of international volleyball tournaments in Southeast Asia featuring teams from Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia and organized with aims of helping uplevel the Southeast Asian teams’ performances apart from promoting volleyball in the region and strengthening cordial relationship among the SEA nations.
The first two editions of the women’s event had been held in 2019 (first phase in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand and second phase in Santa Rosa, Philippines) and 2022 (only one phase was hosted by Thailand and took place in Nakhon Ratchasima).
The third edition of the women’s event is set to be held in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam (first phase between August 4 and 6) and Chiang Mai, Thailand (second phase during August 11-13), while the men’s event, which was not organized in 2019 and 2022, will make its presence felt this year.
Like the women’s event, the inaugural Men’s SEA Volleyball League is split into two phases – the first phase in Indonesia between July 21 and 23 and the second one in Philippines from July 28 to 30, with teams strutting their stuff in the single round-robin competition in each phase.
The first phase of the Men’s SEA Volleyball League will take place at Padepokan Voli Jenderal Polisi Kunarto Gymnasium in Jakarta, Indonesia, with world No. 58 Thailand set to take on Vietnam, world No.56 and bronze medallists at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia early this year, in the opening match on July 21 which recognizes as a final rematch of the semifinals of the recent AVC Challenge Cup in Chinese Taipei.
Thailand, with Korean coach Park Kiwon at the helm, is sending a strong squad, all of them joined the gold-medal winning team in the AVC Challenge Cup, while opposite hitter Nguyen Van Quoc Duy is another major weapon to be added to Vietnam, which is fielding all 13 players from the AVC Challenge Cup.
In the second match on Friday, world No.68 and defending successive three-time SEA Games champions Indonesia will set up a highly-anticipated clash with world No.59 Philippines.
Coached by Chinese Jie Jiang, the host side will be playing without its star spiker Rivan Nurmulki and four other players, but will be replaced by five strong players including Jordan Michael Imanuel, Musa Bikhan and Dimas Saputra.
Meanwhile, 10 Filipinos who competed in the AVC Challenge Cup remain with the Philippine team in the Men’s SEA Volleyball League, while four strong newcomers comprise middle blockers Jayvee Sumagaysay and Cyrus Justin de Guzman, setter Adrian Villados and outside hitter Edward Camposano.
To make sure that all is set for the Friday’s official kickoff of the inaugural Men’s SEA Volleyball League in Indonesia, the venue inspection and preliminary inquiry were held on Wednesday by Technical Delegate Mr Raditia Rahmat Darwis from Indonesia, Referee Delegate Mr Jeerachai Kasemsook from Thailand and local organisers.
On Wednesday, teams also started training at the competition venue to get well acquainted with venue conditions, while the Referee and VIS Clinic was conducted at Padepokan Voli Jenderal Polisi Kunarto Gymnasium in Jakarta, the main competition site, the following day.
During the Clinic, Referee Delegate Mr Jeerachai had instructed the accompanying referees to make themselves best-prepared for the three-day tournament. The theoretical part took place in the Thursday morning, followed by the practical session in the afternoon.
On the same day, the General Technical Meeting was held, with Competition Director presiding. Also in attendance were Technical Delegate Mr Raditia Rahmat Darwis and Referee Delegate Mr Jeerachai Kasemsook, both of them informing the participating teams on relevant rules of the game and refereeing matters.
Team officials from Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand also joined the meeting on Thursday.
The five accompanying referees who will officiate the tournament are as follows.
- Mr Dondu Satriyo Wahono from Indonesia
- Mr Agung Purwantoro from Indonesia
- Mr Manat Hantang from Thailand
- Mr Jeffrey Lopez from Philippines
- Mr Nguyen Huy Thong from Vietnam
MATCH SCHEDULE
MEN’S SEA LEAGUE
FIRST PHASE – Indonesia
FRIDAY, JULY 21
15.00pm: Thailand vs Vietnam
18.30pm: Indonesia vs Philippines
SATURDAY, JULY 22
15.00pm: Philippines vs Thailand
18.30pm: Indonesia vs Vietnam
SUNDAY, JULY 23
15.00pm: Vietnam vs Philippines
18.30pm: Indonesia vs Thailand
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