ALL’S well that ends well as the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) agreed to repeat the draw for the men’s volleyball competition of the games’ 32nd edition in May.
The country’s entry by names for men’s volleyball was inadvertently overlooked during the submission deadline in February thus excluding the Philippines in the draw held Monday in Phnom Penh.
“The POC [Philippine Olympic Committee] would like to thank the top officials of the CAMSOC and the president of the Cambodia volleyball federation for heeding out request for a re-draw,” said POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino after receiving an official communication via email from CAMSOC on Maundy Thursday.
“I would also like to thank Tats Suzara for his great effort in making sure that the men’s volleyball team plays in the SEA Games,” added Tolentino, referring to Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Tolentino also thanked the members of the SEA Games Federation Council—headed by Cambodia Olympic Committee president Dr. Thong Khon—for supporting the POC request for the re-draw.
In its email to POC, the CAMSOC agreed for a re-draw provided that five SEA Games countries—including the Philippines—agree to the exercise.
“We have the full support of the other countries,” Suzara said. “To name some, we have Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Vietnam supporting us.”
Thailand, according to Suzara, also supported the re-draw through Tolentino’s effort.
CAMSOC chairman Samdech Pichey Senah Tea Banh, vice chairman HE Dr. Thong Khon and secretary-general and CEO HE Vath Chamroeun Oly agreed to the Philippine request in consultation with Cambodia volleyball federation president HE Pol. Gen. Neth Savoeun.
“Both CAMSOC and the Kingdom of Cambodia, as host country of the 32nd SEA Games, reaffirms our commitment to the values of solidarity, friendship, cooperation and Peace,” the CAMSOC said in its letter to the POC.
Tolentino said that Oly accepted the POC oversight and convinced the CAMSOC for the re-draw.
“The POC all this while wanted to enter the team, but there was an oversight that resulted in late/no entry,” Chamroeun said in his message to Tolentino. “Since the competition has not started at this early stage, the spirit of our special SEAG friendship, we should allow the entry.”
Chamroeun added: “If a draw had already been conducted, we just do a re-draw. If not, if there’s a group with less teams, the POC can join the group.”
Monday’s draw had Cambodia, Indonesia and Singapore in Group A and Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar in Group B of the SEA Games volleyball set to start on May 3—two days before the opening ceremony—and will end Mat 11 at the Morodok Techno Elephant Hall inside Cambodia’s main stadium.
CAMSOC has yet to announce the date of the re-draw.