Mainstays of the PH Men's Volleyball Team are Serving as COVID-19 Front Liners

Over the course of the past years, Philippine volleyball has been making progress thanks to the success of the women's national team who has achieved success in international competitions even though the Aby Marano-led women's national team failed to finish in the medals in last year's Southeast Asian Games here in Manila. In contrast, the men's volleyball team finished with a silver medal in last year's SEA Games- marking it the first time since 1977 that the country finished second place in the men's volleyball of the SEA Games. And many pundits are already hopeful that their success in last yea's run will lead to more success for the team. Until a pandemic stopped everything.

Prior to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease ICOVID-19) pandemic, the men's national volleyball team was preparing to play in the Asian Men's Club Championship that was supposed to be held in June in Thailand. With travel restrictions still being implemented by the national government, mainstays of the team are serving up in the front in these trying times.

Posted at the Bonifacio Naval Station and Villamor Air Base are Coach Dante Alinsunurin, Jessie Lopez, Alnakran Abdilla, and Jeffrey Malabanan who are enlisted airmen while Joeven deal Vega and Jack Kalingking are enlisted with the Philippine Navy. 

They are just among the notable national athletes who are serving in the military in these trying times. Some members of the Philippine Judo Federation are also enlisted personnel who are serving on the front lines.

These athletes joining the fight on the front lines is proof that their sense of nationalism goes beyond their games and their medals. And that, they deserve being called "national athletes"

Photo is from Rappler