READY. Coaches and team captains of eight countries competing in the Volleyball Nations League Week 3 pose during a press conference at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Monday (June 17, 2024). The tournament kicks off on June 18 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)
MANILA – Expect the SM Mall of Asia Arena to be filled to the rafters on the opening day of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Men’s Pools Week 3 on Tuesday.
The Netherlands and Brazil will square off at 5 p.m.
Japan, back in Manila for the third straight time, will face Canada at 8:30 p.m.
Presidential son William Vincent Marcos, Senators Pia and Allan Peter Cayetano, Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco, and sports patron Manuel V. Pangilinan will grace the opening ceremony to be held after the first match.
Other teams participating in the six-day tournament are France, United States, Germany and Iran.
Japan, Canada, US, Germany, Brazil and France have qualified for the Paris Olympics.
“Just like in the last two years when we hosted the VNL, the elite league is again expected to attract the avid Filipino fan to elite volleyball action,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon Suzara said.
Superstars Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi are reuniting anew for Japan, which lost to Poland last year.
The US, led by ace setter Micah Christenson, will debut on Wednesday against Iran at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Olympics-bound Poland will be joining Italy, Argentina, Serbia, Turkiye, Cuba, Bulgaria, and host Slovenia in the Pool Week 3 in Ljubljana, which will be played simultaneously with the Manila leg. (PNA)
