New volley coach eyes SEAG silver

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed national men’s volleyball team coach Sammy Acaylar is eyeing no less than a silver medal in the 29th Southeast Asian Games slated Aug. 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Since I have won a bronze medal already, I hope to make the finals and win a silver or a gold this time,” said Acaylar, who was the head coach when the Phl snared a bronze in the 1991 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

But the team has only eight months to prepare, including the tryouts and training even as he stressed the need to drum up support.

“I would be a hypocrite if I say we don’t need it. We need financial support to fund our preparation,” said Acaylar.

Meantime, Acaylar said they will hold tryouts in the provinces in the coming weeks since he is also forming the Under-23 team.

“We all know that we have so many talents from the provinces so we’re planning to hold tryouts in Cebu, Davao and some other parts of the country because I want a team of veterans and young ones,” he said.

In Manila, Acaylar wants to get players from the UAAP, NCAA and the Armed Forces. Tipped to make it to the national squad are Mark Alfafara, Mark Espejo, Ysay Marasigan, Raymark Woo, Bonjomar Castel, Reylan and Rey Taneo and Johnvic de Guzman, all stars of the Spikers’ Turf.