World volleyball epicenter rumbles in Southeast Asia

VOLLEYBALL’S epicenter rumbled in Southeast Asia with the inauguration on Friday of the first-ever Asian Volleyball (AVC) House in Bangkok with Thailand entering the last two days of its hosting of the FIVB Women’s World Championship and the Philippines taking its turn to host the men’s global tournament in a week’s time.

“This is the home of Asia volleyball now and it easy for us to work around here with the success of volleyball in Southeast Asia,” AVC president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, also head of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), told a well-attended inauguration ceremony that drew the who’s who in world volleyball.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio stood alongside FIVB VIPs headed by its president, Fabio Azevedo, and his predecessor, Ari Graza, and Suzara’s own predecessor at the AVC, Rita Subowo during the historic ceremony.

“All volleyball stakeholders are welcome especially in Asia, volleyball fans ,too, universities and club teams, and of course we are open to many sports stakeholders,” added Suzara, who was also joined by PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal and Mayor Eric Singson, who’s bidding to host the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup Candon City.

Thailand Volleyball Association president Somporn Chaibangyang and National Olympic Committee of Thailand secretary-general Thana Chaiprasit joined Suzara, Azevedo and Gregorio and leading the toast for the AVC House—a two-storey mansion sitting on a sprawling 2,800-square meter lot in Khet Saphan Sung, one of Bangkok’s 50 districts.

“I’m extremely happy and proud of our volleyball leadership in Asia led by president Ramon Suzara, the volleyball Asia house is magnificent and amazing,” Azevedo said. “What a great place to be the hub of volleyball in Asia and we are moving ‘together as one’ as what’ president Suzara said.”

The women’s world championship in Thailand will stage the semifinals between and Turkiye and Italy and Brazil on Saturday (today) and medal matches on Sunday.

The Philippines takes its turn at hosting the 32-nation men’s world championship starting with the Philippines vs Tunisia Pool A match at 4:30 p.m. this Friday (September 12) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Tickets to the Philippine world championship are available via the official website https://www.philippineswch2025.com.

DANNY SIMON

AVC and PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (center) and PSC chairman Patrick “Patò” Gregorio (second from left) lead the toast with (from left) Thailand Volleyball Association president Somporn Chaibangyang and National Olympic Committee of Thailand secretary-general Thana Chaiprasit and FIVB president Fabio Azevedo. PNVF Photo