![Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (second from left) talks with City of Santa Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex. With them are PNVF secretary-general Don Caringal venue manager for the SEA V.League Girlie Dealino. [contributed photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/tats-suzara-2-400x200.jpg)
The core of the national’s men’s team competing in the ongoing Southeast Asian Volleyball League (V.League) will banner the country’s return to the Asian Games in Hangzhou in China in September.
![Indonesia (light) celebrates against the Philippines (dark). [PNVF photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SEA-VLeague-Phi-in-blue-vs-Ind-in-white04_pnvf-400x200.jpg)
Indonesia shored up its drive to another leg championship with a victory over the Philippines even as Vietnam pulled the rug from under Thailand in Day 2 of the Southeast Asia Volleyball League (V.League) second leg on Saturday.
![Philippines vs. Thailand. [PNVF photo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SEA-VLeague-Phi-in-white-vs-Thai-in-blue07-400x200.jpg)
The Philippines stood its ground but still fell to Thailand in five sets while Leg 1 champion Indonesia made short work of Vietnam in the opener of the Southeast Asia Volleyball League on Friday (July 28) night at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.
The Philippines, with seasoned aces Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo on board, will be out to wage a stronger fight when it hosts the second leg of the inaugural Southeast Asia (SEA) Volleyball League on Friday, July 28, at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.
![Marck Espejo [photo credit: Mark Espejo Facebook]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/espejo2-400x200.jpg)
Espejo, son of a housewife and an electrical project officer based in Guam, said a hoop incident led to a U-turn in his priorities. He got injured after landing awkwardly while trying to stuff the ball in a pickup game.