Team USA’s Fil-Am manager is enjoying PH’s return to VNL

By: Lance Agcaoili – 38 seconds ago

David Dantes, manager of the US men’s volleyball team. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The first time Team USA played in Manila for the Volleyball Nations League was also a homecoming for the team’s Filipino-American team manager, David Dantes.

Dantes enjoyed his return to the Philippines after ten years.

“It’s really great to be back. I think the guys (players) are having a great experience at the moment. I think that’s been the best part. (It’s the first time here for) most of our team and we love it. They love the fans, they love the passion, they couldn’t be happier,” said Dantes, whose parents are from Quezon City.

READ: VNL 2024: Experience makes US stint in Manila ‘great success’

Like his players, Micah Christenson, Erik Shoji, Taylor Averill and others, Dantes, who was born and raised in California and currently lives in Georgia, was also in awe of the love Team USA received from the Filipino fans during their first VNL experience. in Manila.

“It’s great. We want the sport to be popular everywhere. We want the fans to be as passionate as Filipino fans. So this means a lot to us, especially our boys,” he said.

Dantes, who was also a coach and principal at the University of Georgia, admitted that he hasn’t watched any Philippine volleyball matches, but after experiencing the huge Philippine crowd and his former player, Erica Staunton, signing with Creamline as an import player, he is watching looking forward to PVL matches at home.

“I will now. Because one of my athletes in Georgia just started for Creamline last week. I’m going to watch it now because she’s going to play,” said Team USA’s technical support team and men’s seating team, Independent Contract Performance Analyst.

“It’s really cool to see where I come from, where my parents love it as passionately (as I do). Obviously, I’m almost excited to come back and see the sport grow even more. It is so cool to see the Philippines growing very quickly in professional sports, which is great,” he added.

READ: VNL2024: US star Taylor Averill wants to come back and explore PH

Dantes shares that grassroots development is the key to taking Philippine volleyball to greater heights.

“I think it all starts at the grassroots level. Just provide as many opportunities as possible and let the children, let the youth play as much as possible,” he said.

American libero Shoji shared the same sentiment as Dantes.

“I think it’s growing. Look at this crowd. So we need more boys and girls playing volleyball and the more people play, the better you become. So you know, we need more boys and girls playing volleyball in Manila, around the Philippines,” Shoji said. “That is my hope for the country and little by little, step by step, they will get better.”

USA, who finished with a 5-7 record, may have missed the VNL Final Eight after losing to Japan for the first time on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena, but the experience of playing in front of an electric crowd made the stint of the Americans is still a success. An unforgettable experience when they go home and prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris.