AVC lauds Candon City for support to volleyball development

Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara expressed his gratitude to local officials and stakeholders for helping transform Candon into one of the country’s premier volleyball destinations, while hinting at even bigger international events for the city in the coming years.

Speaking to members of the media during the AVC Women’s Cup festivities, Suzara praised Candon Mayor Eric Singson for his strong support to volleyball, noting that the mayor’s leadership has been instrumental in the city’s successful staging of several major tournaments.

..”As president of the AVC, I would like to thank everyone for being here and for your continued support,” Suzara said. “I believe Candon has now become an important volleyball hub in Northern Philippines.”

“There will be even more events here in the future,” Suzara said. “In fact, I told the Mayor that if Candon had an airport, even the VNL could be hosted here.”

The AVC chief closed by once again thanking the local organizers and residents of Candon for their hospitality throughout the tournament.

“Hosting an AVC Cup with 12 teams is not easy, and we’re grateful for the Mayor’s support,” Suzara said. “All the teams have expressed how happy they are to be here. They enjoy the beaches, the food and the warm hospitality. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the VNL next week.”

Suzara then shifted his focus to next week’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in the Philippines, which will feature some of the world’s top-ranked women’s teams.

“We have secured the hosting rights for the next three years,” he said. “The event was originally planned for Cebu, but the venue was not completed on time. Next year, it will be held there, and we hope everyone continues to support it.”

Among the powerhouse nations expected to compete are Italy, Japan, Serbia, the Dominican Republic, Czechia and the United States.

“Japan has been playing very well recently, while Serbia remains a strong team even without Tijana Bošković,” Suzara said.

“The Dominican Republic continues to be a powerhouse, and regardless of the lineups, these are still among the best women’s teams in the world.”

According to Suzara, hosting major women’s tournaments over the next three years forms part of the country’s long-term preparations for the 2029 FIVB Women’s World Championship.

“The reason we’re hosting these women’s events is to strengthen support for women’s volleyball and help prepare our national teams for the future,” he said.

The AVC president also revealed that officials from the FIVB will visit the country during the VNL to inspect facilities and assess preparations for upcoming international competitions.

“They will review our progress, and I believe there will be additional agreements signed between the PNVF and FIVB during their visit,” Suzara said.