Cambodian volleyball club signs Filipino setter Joshua Retamar

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Another Filipino volleyball superstar is set to head overseas.

Fresh off a bronze medal campaign during the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, Joshua Retamar is set to embark on a new journey after Cambodian volleyball club Visakha signed him to a playing contract, announced Feb. 3, 2026.

The off-season development was also confirmed by his management agency, VP Global, which added that the decorated setter has already departed the Philippines to begin his stint as an Asian import.

Retamar will immediately be put to the test when the 2026 Sar Kheng Cup begins, popularly known as the Fourth National Volleyball Championship.

According to league rules, each competing team in the 4th Sar Kheng Cup is allowed to acquire only one foreign player, with the primary aim of elevating the tournament’s level of competition.

Retamar’s decision to accept an overseas contract came after his Spikers’ Turf mother franchise, Cignal, took a shocking leave of absence from the country’s only professional men’s volleyball league.

Retamar boasts an impressive resume after leading the National University Bulldogs to four UAAP championship titles from Season 81 to 86, while also earning two Finals Most Valuable Player awards.

The pride of San Pedro, Laguna, did not lose a step upon turning professional, becoming a vital part of Cignal’s championship runs and earning three Spikers’ Turf Best Setter awards.

Aside from his SEA Games exposure, Retamar was also part of Alas Pilipinas’ historic qualification for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

Retamar followed in the footsteps of his national team mentor, Marck Espejo, who signed with Taiwanese professional volleyball club TSG Skyhawks last month.