By Edwin Rollon
Manila Standard
If the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) could have its way, and gathered big support from various sectors, the country’s hosting of the 2025 Men’s Volleyball World Championships will have all the bangs and whistles of a Taylor Swift concert.
And huge returns of investment to those who decide to join in what is now considered the country’s ambitious hosting of a sporting event like the global acceptance of the trending K-pop phenomena.
“It will be like a Taylor Swift concert, even generate the excitement of K-pop,” said PNVF president Ramon Suzara in sharing with Manila Standard Sports his high hopes of getting not just the Philippine sporting community involved in the MWVC staging this elite 32-nation world championship on September 12 to 28. “We welcome everybody to chip in here, especially our tourism, business, and even local government units. The promise of huge dividends awaits those who will join us in this super major volleyball event.”
The business sector, Suzara stressed, should play a big role in the success of the MWVC not only through much-needed sponsorships but also by sharing the marketing, sales, and even managerial expertise in the project.
“We’re talking of the big guns of Philippine business, and we all know who they are, lending us not just their companies and brands in the MWVC but their names as believers that our country is very much capable of hosting a sporting event of this magnitude. The stars of Philippine business alongside the stars of world volleyball, that’s one for the books.”
Suzara went on to cite tourism as a key role player in the success of the MWVC, which will feature the host country along with Japan, the USA, Poland, Italy, and countries in Africa, as well as Korea.
“Send out your best tourism packages, and we promise you tourists from these countries who have regular visits to the Philippines’ amazing beaches and awesome heritage sites.”
The increase in tourism before, during, and after the MWVC is already a given, Suzara stressed, but there is more to gain here with the participation of the LGUs.
“We’re not talking here of just handing keys to the cities to all the world-class athletes and officials coming here, past this ceremonial trick, imagine them playing foster cities to teams from Japan, known as having the biggest fan base in volleyball, Korea and their “oppas,” the USA, Italy and other European teams. Let's show to the world the best of the Philippines and its people, our cities, and their diverse populations.
Suzara added that the Philippines has already developed a reputation as a volleyball country, “and we have now a fan base of locals who are highly supportive and very much engaged in watching a sports spectacle like the world championships.”
But above all, Suzara said, the economic promise of huge dividends “should be too good to pass on” by our local business, tourism, and government sectors.
“And let me be honest, hosting the MWVC is no walk in the park. We, the organizers and our team the ALAS PILIPINAS, need all the support we can get, and in turn, we promise them an awesome sports show and good return on investments”
It’s been announced that matches will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena with Korea drawn in Pool C with France, Argentina, and Finland. Host Philippines is in Pool A with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia, while titleholder Italy plays in Pool F against Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria. Pool B has Poland, Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania, while the US plays in Pool D against Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia. Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile play in Pool E, while Pool G has Japan, Canada, Türkiy,e, and Libya. Brazil is in pool H with Serbia, Czechia, and China.
