Philippine volleyball picks up lessons from FIBA World Cup hosting

MANILA, Philippines — Two years after the successful hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the country will once again serve as home of another major sporting event — the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 in September.

Lessons from that basketball hosting will be used on a bigger scale as the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City will host a total of 32 teams — double than the teams Manila hosted in 2023.

“This is in the sense of the preparation we made for the FIBA World Cup, but this time it’s 32 countries, so double the number of countries participating,” said Metro Pacific chief and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan on Friday, January 10. 

“So it will be, at least in terms of players from tourists from different countries and tourist arrivals…we’re pleased to partner with the government in this effort,” he added. 

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) led a meeting along with the stakeholders of the biennial meet at the organization’s new headquarters in Taguig. 

Present in the inter-agency meeting included Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, and Pangilinan from the private sector. 

The government was represented by Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann. 

All of them comprise the executive board of the local organizing committee. 

“It’s the same people involved in the FIBA World Cup hosting, from the private sector to the government, legislators and NSAs so we’re confident that this hosting will also be a great success,” said Bachmann. 

According to Tolentino, the hosting of the event will serve as precursor to the 2033 Southeast Asian Games, which the Philippines last hosted in 2019. 

Ticket prices for the Volleyball World Championship will be released soon, per Suzara, as well as tour packages for some countries such as Japan, Poland, and the United States. 

The Philippines secured its second World Championship appearance since the 1974 edition held in Mexico. 

Alas Pilipinas Men will face off against 11-time African champion Tunisia, African champion and Paris Olympian Egypt, as well as 2024 Asian Championship runner-up Iran in Group A. – Rappler.com