Coach Oliver Almadro and Marck Espejo. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Don't be surprised if more Filipino athletes wind up playing as imports in volleyball leagues abroad.

This, according to multi-titled coach Oliver Almadro, who is preparing to send his best player, Marck Espejo, to the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler club in Japan.

"Sabi nga namin, and sabi rin naman ng mga Japanese coaches, this might be the start," said Almadro, who coached Espejo for five seasons in the Ateneo de Manila University as well as for several stints in club leagues.

"Kasi, kapag nakakita sila ng ganoong level, 'yung mga players dito ay magpu-push na maabot din si Marck," he said.

READ: Ateneo eyes Open Conference stint, skips Collegiate tourney

Espejo, a five-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, will be the first Filipino to play in Japan as an import when he suits up for Oita Miyoshi in late August.

Almadro is sure that Espejo won't be the last, however. Even now, he can identify several other Filipinos who can conceivably take their talents abroad sometime in the future.

"Marami," said Almadro, who steered Ateneo to three UAAP titles with Espejo at the forefront. "Si Bryan Bagunas, pwede 'yan. Si Johnvic (de Guzman), pwede 'yan. Si (RanRan) Abdilla, pwede… Si Mark Alfafara, pwede rin 'yan."

Bagunas is the high-leaping spiker from National University, whose Bulldogs dethroned Espejo's Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 80. 

De Guzman shone for De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in the NCAA before being named the captain of the national team for last year's Southeast Asian Games, while Alfafara was a do-it-all spiker for University of Santo Tomas earlier this decade before becoming a national team standout.

Abdilla, for his part, has been a stalwart for the Philippine Air Force volleyball team and a mainstay of the national team pool as well.

"Siyempre, may hinahanap din sila eh. May hinahanap din. Hindi kailangan sobrang lakas eh. May hinahanap silang certain talent, na you really have to do this, na kaya mo 'to, kaya mo 'to, para ma-select," Almadro said.

"When you go to Japan, hindi lahat sila puro power," he explained. 
"Magagaling sila, mabibilis, pero hindi lang lahat puro power. So meron silang certain talent na hinahap kada team."

Espejo, for his part, is welcoming his role as a trailblazer for men's volleyball players in the country.

"Hopefully, itong pag-punta ko sa Japan, hopefully may mga iba rin na makuha," he said. "Sana ma-inspire (sila) and i-push 'yung sarili nila as a motivation, na after ng UAAP or PVL, meron din palang international na level."

"So, parang ako ang nagiging gauge nila. So parang, papakita ko sa kanila, na pag nagagawa ko, kaya rin naman nila," he added.

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