THE PHILIPPINE National Volleyball Federation completed recently the Luzon leg of the National Coaching Certificate Course that drew more than a hundred participants at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

A total of 112 male and 12 female participants joined the PNVF activity which its president, Ramon “Tats” Suzara, said is part of the federation’s goal of propagating the International Volleyball Federation’s (FIVB) global coaching program.

“We didn’t expect the heavy turnout but it goes to show that volleyball is now a major team sport in the country,” said Suzara, who was joined by his secretary-general Donaldo Caringal in gracing the event.

The resource speakers and course instructors included FIVB coaches Sergio Veloso and Jorge Edson Souza de Brito, both Olympian and renowned Brazilian coaches, as well as PNVF auditor and head of rules and referees commission Yul Benosa, Odjie Mamon, Christian Fernandez, Norman Miguel and Karl Chan.

Project director and organizer Oliver Mora said the class ballooned following the accommodation of walk-in participants coming from the provinces, including Vigan City, Puerto Princesa City and Legazpi.

Philippine Sports Commissioner Fritz Gaston and PNVF treasurer Ricky Palou closed the course with Suzara also rewarding the participants with free tickets to the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Competition the federation is hosting from July 4 to 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The course shifted to Dumaguete City for the ongoing Eastern and Central Visayas Leg that ends Sunday, followed by the Southern Mindanao Leg in Davao City from June 14 to 18, Western Visayas Leg in Dumangas (Iloilo) from June 21 to 25 and the Northern Mindanao Leg in Cagayan de Oro City from June 27 to July 1.