Germany-PH men’s volleyball friendly match called off

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) announced Wednesday that the friendly match between the two, which is supposed to happen on Monday at San Juan Arena, will not push through.

“The exhibition match between the Philippine team and Germany scheduled on Monday, June 27, at FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City won’t push through,” PNVF stated. “Germany said it needed to rest its players from the grueling Week 2 hostilities of the VNL.”

Germany, which is currently placed at the 7th spot of the VNL standings, will match up against fifth-ranked Italy in the Week 2 of the league on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The German team, who now has 3 wins and a single loss, is set to play three consecutive matches, as they go against China this Thursday, Netherlands on Friday, and top 2 seed France on Sunday.

After the Quezon City leg, team Germany will head straight to Osaka Japan in the Week 3 of the VNL which is set to happen from July 5 to July 10.

The Philippine men’s volleyball team, led by Japan imports Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, will no longer play any exhibition match for international teams that are still in the country. It can be remembered that their friendly match against current top team Japan, was also canceled last June 16 due to supposed health and safety protocols, as per PNVF.

The women’s national club, however, successfully had two international friendly matches against Thailand and top-seed Japan, which consecutively happened last June 11 and 12.

Contributed by John Leeroy Hodges