No 132 February 2005 English edition FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL Significant breakthrough at FIVB 2006 MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The Philippines promise headquarters - New Volleyball Federation World Championship of Bosnia & Herzegovina under way spectacle The FIVB’s long and patient from Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Philippines and international Volleyball Republic of Srpska will make a success fans are in for a real treat with the efforts are about to bear of their first General Assembly and give prospect of world-class Volleyball action fruit as new impetus will life to a National Federation which will when the Pool Asia C 2006 World Cham- soon be given to sport in a do us proud. To bring together, within pionships men’s first round tournament highly sensitive region: on a single entity, the Bosnian and Serbian kicks off in Cebu on March 2nd, accord- Volleyball communities, in a region hav- ing to FIVB Development Commission Wednesday 23 February ing endured so much suffering, is a member Ramon Suzara. 2005, the governing challenge which the FIVB has taken up. I Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Tonga, Macau bodies of Volleyball in am delighted at the prospect that we are and the Philippines will be playing off Bosnia & Herzegovina and about to succeed!” for two spots in the Asian Pool C tour- The General Manager of the FIVB, Mr. nament, which will see them progress the Republic of Srpska Jean-Pierre Seppey, underscored the through to the second round. signed their final draft efforts made by the Bosnian and Serbian “What you see on TV, in ESPN, Star Sports Constitution in Lausanne. partners, Messrs. Hasan Uscuplic and and Solar TV, you can see live at the Fikret Music (Bosnia & Herzegovina), University of San Carlos Gym in Cebu,” As a result, the new Volleyball Federation together with Djorde Likic and Vid Suzara said. of Bosnia & Herzegovina will come into Blagojevic (Republic of Srpska), which The winner of the tournament will being at the Constituent General Assem- produced this first conclusive result, i.e. advance to the second round ASI-D to be bly to be held on 9 April in Sarajevo. On the signature of a constituent act com- held in Kazakhstan from 17-19 June 2005 that date, the FIVB plans to invite all the plying with the Constitution and ideals where they will meet hosts Kazakhstan, country’s active clubs to approve this of the FIVB, and in accordance with its Korea and the second place team of first Constitution, which will bring about the Code of Conduct and Regulations. round ASI-A. new Volleyball Federation of Bosnia & “You have shown courage but more will The second place team will head to India Herzegovina. be needed to launch your future National a week later for the second round ASI-E The new Constitution will ensure that Federation. Courage is a vital ingredient with the hosts India, China, and the first all active clubs located on the territory of in showing the way to all your country’s place team of the first round ASI-B in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Republic clubs, and the only way is forward!” said Thailand from 29 April - 1 May 2005. of Srpska will be represented within the Mr. Helgi Thorsteinsson, coordinator Locals, including Cebu Sports Hall of Volleyball Federation of Bosnia & Herze- of the FIVB Technical & Development Famers, Grace Antigua, Eugene de la govina, whose headquarters are likely Department. Cerna, and Marilou and Marichu Jao, to be set up in the Sarajevo area. This For his part, Mr. Jean-Pierre Seppey believe the home side has a good chance significant structural move is directly in thanked Mr. Philip Berben, member of of advancing despite the likes of Indo- line with the Dayton Agreements - which the FIVB Board of Administration and nesia and Chinese Taipei being ranked made it possible to divide the former Legal Commission. Mr. Berben, who higher internationally. Yugoslavia into six distinct nations. led the discussions on Wednesday in “Indonesia has slowly established itself “This is a decisive and historic break- Lausanne, has worked tirelessly on the as a Volleyball power in Southeast Asia through, commented Dr. Rubén Acosta, Constitution of the future Volleyball Fed- but our players are also very good,” de the FIVB President. I trust that our friends eration of Bosnia & Herzegovina. la Cerna said. VOLLEYBALL 2006 Men’s World Championship Results of the First Round Group A in Khartoum, Sudan Date Teams Set Result per set (points) Total Time Audience Points 1 2 3 4 5 01-Feb UGA-GHA 0-3 20-25 23-25 20-25 63-75 1:10 1’500 01-Feb SUD-ERT 3-0 25-11 25-13 25-13 75-37 0:52 3’200 02-Feb GHA-ERT 3-0 25-22 25-17 25-12 75-51 1:00 2’000 02-Feb SUD-UGA 3-1 25-21 20-25 25-23 27-25 97-94 1:39 2’000 03-Feb UGA-ERT 3-0 25-12 25-13 25-22 75-47 1:05 900 Sudan team secured a second round 03-Feb SUD-GHA 3-2 18-25 26-24 21-25 25-19 15-10 105-103 1:43 3’000 ticket in the 2006 World Championship Find out more at www.fivb.org Volleyball 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Spain, England and Sudan AVC Men’s second round in Cebu City, Philippines overcome first WCH hurdle Host team will do the best to capture the leg One month into Volleyball’s Cebu City, some 300 kilometers south pei, Macau and Indonesia to advance in premier sporting event three of the capital city Manila, will see the the second round. countries – Spain, England Philippines battle it out in a round robin and Sudan – have realised a format with Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, The FIVB development commission dream by progressing into Macao and Tonga with the top two teams officer, Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the for- the second round of the going on to the second round. mation of the RP men’s squad revolved 2006 FIVB World Volleyball around skill, speed and height to match Championships. Philippine Volleyball Federation presi- the strength of Indonesia, which defeated dent Roger Banzuela says his men’s team the Philippines, 3-1, during the 2003 Viet- In the first tournament of the Champi- is aiming to beat Indonesia and Chinese nam SEA Games. onships, a mixed gender event held in Taipei in order to progress through to the Sheffield, England in January, the host’s second round of the 2006 World Cham- “As host country, we have the crowd men’s team beat Scotland and Northern pionships when Cebu City hosts a first advantage but we should also field a Ireland while the Spanish women’s team round tournament - Asia Pool C - from strong team,” said Suzara, who described overcame England, Scotland, Serbia & March 2-6. the RP team as the tallest squad ever Montenegro and Albania. formed with an average height of 6 feet. “Our team has been training for the com- Meanwhile, the Sudan men’s team was ing event and we will do our best to cap- The Philippine Volleyball Federation, the latest side to move into the second ture the Philippine leg,” Banzuela said. which is headed by Roger Banzuela, has round last week after beating Ghana in “We are setting our eyes on the Indone- tapped the services of Sergio Isada Jr. a five set thriller (18-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25- sian team and the team from Chinese Tai- and Ernesto Pamilar to coach the team 19, 15-10) having earlier beaten Uganda pei because they are the teams to beat.” that will also play in the Southeast Asian and Eritrea in the Sudanese capital of Games in December. Khartoum. Chinese Taipei is ranked 39th on the FIVB rankings while Indonesia, the defending Isada is head coach of the University of Sudan will now head to Cairo in late South East Asian Games champion, is the Philippines men’s and women’s Vol- March to join Egypt, Cameroon and the ranked 41st. The Philippines, Tonga and leyball teams in the UAAP while Pamilar Democratic Republic of Congo in round Macau do not have an FIVB ranking. handles Letran’s men and women teams two to try and keep their World Champi- in the NCAA. onship dream alive. The winner of the tournament will advance to a second round fixture held Making up the RP Team are Roger England meanwhile will play the Czech from June 17-19 where they will meet Ngo, a six-foot-seven player from De Republic, Ukraine and Denmark in the Korea, hosts Kazakhstan and another La Salle-Dasmarinas, Oliver Balse, Jer- second round in May, while Spain will first round in Asia. The second placed rico Hubalde, Herminio Gallo Jr, Janley play Azerbaijan, Romania and another team will head to India a week later for a Patrona, Edcer Penetrante, Roger Ngo, first round winner. second round tournament with the hosts, Dante Alinsunurin, Cesael de los Santos, China and another first round Asian Avelino Tongco, Gino Macailan, Jeffrey A record 174 teams (97 men’s and 77 qualifier. John San Jose, Beniamor Lingat, Ariel women’s) are participating in the 2006 de la Cruz, Willy de la Cruz and Aristeo FIVB World Championships 2006, which The 2006 World Championships has Billena. incorporates three rounds of continen- already seen three first round tourna- tal action and playoffs before climaxing ments take place in England and Sudan The top two teams will advance into the with a grand finale of the best 24 teams in with the England men’s team, the Span- second round while the finals will be each gender.