Umingan boys pull off shocker in PNVF U-18 Championships

MANILA, Philippines — Who would have thought a bunch of boys from the municipality of Umingan, Pangasinan, who’ve never felt the action in the big city, would emerge champions of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championships last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum?

And that their coach never played competitive volleyball at all but instead teaches math and ran the 100, 200 and 400 meters in his elementary and high school days while representing the Pangasinan town?

“It’s tough, too tough, we’ve gone through much challenges,” said an ecstatic Eusebio Solis moments after he coached his team to a pulsating 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 16-14 come-from-behind win over VNS-Savouge for the boys’ crown.

“But we proved something with this victory, that we, provincial teams, could stay in stride or even beat the strong teams from the big city,” added Solis.

The victorious squad, all students of the town’s national high school and supported by their parents and Mayor Michael Cruz, are on their way to the Palarong Pambansa nationals in Cebu in July.