PHL men’s national volleyball team drops head coach Dante Alinsunurin

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The architect behind the heydays of the Philippine men’s national volleyball team will no longer handle head coaching duties.

Coach Dante Alinsunurin, the man who led the PHL men’s national volleyball team to a historic silver medal campaign during the 30th Southeast Asian Games held in Manila, announced the development last January 28, 2023.

The veteran chief mentor confirmed the latest volleyball news during Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) All-Filipino Cup press conference held at the Discovery Suites.

Alinsunurin, who was recently hailed as the new chief tactician of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’, bared that the national team’s team manager already spoke to him regarding the sudden change of leadership.

The legendary UAAP men’s volleyball coach also added that the national squad team manager asked if he could still handle his job due to his commitment to the PVL and the National University (NU) in the collegiate scene.

Alinsunurin cleared to the national team’s point person that despite his two head coaching jobs, he can still accommodate them.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) then informed him that he will no longer call the shots for the men’s national team for the upcoming international leagues.

“Kaya lang ayun medyo nag-decide na rin sila, yung PNVF, na palitan na rin siguro ako although wala pa akong narereceive na letter na wala na ako sa national team basta more on team manager lang kausap ko,” said Alinsunurin.

With the recent adjustments to the national team, Alinsunurin will be shifting his focus to helping Choco Mucho regain their lost touch in the PVL.

Alinsunurin will be taking over the reins of former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) head coach Oliver Almadro who was released by the team midway through the import-laced conference.

“With Coach Dante’s experience, commitment and program, we truly believe he will lead our Titans to reach their highest potential as he has done for the other teams he has coached,” wrote Choco Mucho in a statement.