Vicente, Acaylar named Phl coaches

MANILA, Philippines - The Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. has named Francis Vicente and Sammy Acaylar as the new women’s and men’s coaches, respectively, of the national volleyball teams gearing up for the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Aug. 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Joey Romasanta, who is back as the LVPI president after taking a leave of absence, made the announcement based on the recommendation of the three-man search committee, composed of Arellano U’s Peter Cayco, University of the East’s Rod Roque and Perpetual Help’s Jeff Tamayo.

In his decades long stint as Perpetual Help coach, Acaylar has steered the Las Piñas-based school to 10 men’s and three women’s championships in the NCAA.

He also piloted the Altas to a record 54-game win streak from 2010 to 2014. He was also a member of the coaching staff when the country struck gold in women’s volleyball in the 1993 SEAG in Singapore.

Vicente, on the other hand, has mentored the national youth women’s team in two international tournaments last year.

He was also coach of UE when it won a game last UAAP season, ending a 58-game losing skein for the Recto-based squad.

The two coaches are expected to conduct a series of tryouts soon as they prime up for the biennial games.

Multi-titled Roger Gorayeb and Ateneo mentor Oliver Almandro handled the last national women’s and men’s teams, respectively, in the Singapore SEAG two years ago.