Joshua Retamar. Photo V-League
MANILA, Philippines – Joshua Retamar may not attend the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May due to a scheduling conflict with National University’s UAAP campaign in February, but the star staging did not hold back from lamenting the removal of Dante Alinsunurin as coach of the men’s national program.
Retamar was a member of the national team that won the historic silver medal at the 2019 SEA Games and the team that finished fifth at last year’s Olympics in Vietnam were both led by Alinsunurin.
alinsunurin revealed on Saturday that he had been dismissed from coaching duties after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) let him go due to multiple coaching contracts with NU in the UAAP and Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League.
Ironically, Odjie Mamon, who is also a coach at the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers and AMC Cotabato in Spikers’ Turf, was chosen to temporarily replace Alinsunurin before Brazilian Sergio Veloso took over the men’s program. after the SEA Games in May.
Retamar has come to Alinsunurin’s defense and says he has no doubt his former coach can still manage his time despite handling three teams.
“Siyempre nalungkot kasi alam ko po na gusto talaga ni coach Dante na makabawi and maka-gold at the SEA Games at saka sobrang taas ng pangarap niya sa po,” Retamar told Inquirer Sports. “Kaso natanggal po siya so lahat po yun balewala. Kung ano man yung ginawang decided to para sa kanya tinanggap na lang ni coach Dante.”
(Of course, I’m sad because Coach Dante really wanted to come back and win the gold medal in the SEA Games. He had big dreams for the national men’s team. But he stepped down and that dream was gone. However, the coach still accepted their decision.)
“I think Coach Dante can [coach three teams]. He has a coaching staff and he is constantly looking after us and teaching us. He was always available for our morning and afternoon sessions. I think it’s not fair that they didn’t give coach Dante a chance to prove that he can.”
Retamar was clearly absent from the 19-man list for this year’s SEA Games.
However, 22-year-old Retamar, however, revealed that he and the Spikers’ reigning MVP on the pitch, Nico Almendras, were invited to take part in the initial cut but decided to give it up to focus on their upcoming comeback. theirs in UAAP.
He also clarified that the removal of Alinsunurin had nothing to do with their decision to retire from the national team.
“When coach Dante was replaced, I knew that coach Odjie also had what it took to run the national team. Our decision to focus on UAAP is not because Coach Odjie is the new head coach of the national team,” said Retamar in Filipino.
However, another key factor in their decision to skip this year’s Olympics was Retamar’s announcement that it had stopped receiving subsidies since last November.
“Nawalan kami ng grant in November. Ang balita ko po kasi daw hindi kami nagtatraining kaya inistop yung allowance. Kami Nga yung gusto magtraining kasi gusto namin makabawi sa SEA Games results kasi naging mababa yung namin sa Vietnam. Kami yung naghahabol sana,” Retamar said.
(We stopped receiving benefits in November because they said we don’t practice anymore, that’s why they stopped subsidizing us. But we want to work out because we really want to be back.) back to the SEA Games after our results in Vietnam.)
“Tinatanong namin lagi si coach Dante na kung kailan magte-training for makapag-preparing ng mas mahaba. Coach Lagi lang sagot sa amin ni Dante wala pa daw sagot yung PNVF kung kailan. Maghintay lang daw kami.”
(We always ask Coach Dante when to practice so we can prepare longer but Coach Dante keeps saying that PNVF hasn’t said when and we just have to wait.)
Retamar also said their daily allowance during last year’s SEA Games preparations was even lower than what they received when the team was founded in 2019. They even had to pay for water. Drinks and parking fees per training session.
“Pinagisipan ko mabuti kasi gagastos lang po kasi training daily for the national team sa Pasig magkano gastos P800 balikan tapos pagkain pa. Magkano lang naman subsidized namin sa national team kulang pa talaga. Magaabono pa kami,” said Retamar.
(I gave it a lot of thought because every national team training takes place in Pasig and I will spend around P800 on food. We will have to spend on our own because the allowance we receive will not be. enough.)
“Hindi naman namin do not expect na tumaas yung subsidies. Sana nagmaintain lang, kung tataas po edi masaya kami e. Kaso mas grabe pa yung naging problema kahit tubig sa training, parking yun yung nire-request namin SEA Games first.”
(We weren’t expecting a higher subsidy but the situation got worse with the water and parking fees we requested at the SEA Games before.)
“Parang nakakatampo lang kasi hindi naman kami lahat mayaman, may kaya. Kami estudyante pa lang po. Yung allows na binibigay, binibigay din namin sanamin family,” he added.
(It hurts because not all of us are rich. We are just students and we provide for our families.)
Retamar has no grudge against the national team. But he regretted that the team had no chance to atone with Alinsunurin no longer being the coach and the other players choosing to beg.
“Masabi doesn’t wander about the national team nakakapanghinayang lang nagsimula kami ng maganda tapos, the natapos yung na ang pangit ng kinalabasan team,” said Retamar. “Yung iba tinamad na maglaro kasi walang suporta sa amin. Mas bumaba. Sayang yung mga batang gusto mag national team may have a chance sana talaga dahil sa Nangyari. Kahit ako, hindi ko na alam kung ano mangyayari sa men’s national team kasi marami na talagang di maglalaro.”
(Too bad that what started really well didn’t end the way we wanted. Others didn’t want to play anymore because of the lack of support. Personally I don’t even know what will happen to the men. he national team because many will not compete.)
Inquirer Sports has reached out to PNVF president Tats Suzara for comment but a top official has not yet responded as of time of posting.
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