Solid Filipino support made Team USA feel at home during the 2024 Volleyball VNL- Manila leg.
Team USA found a place close to home during the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL)-Manila leg.
Team captain Micah Christenson revealed in their Pilipinas Live's Starting Lineup interview that they never felt like strangers from a far away land as they played behind a multitude of Filipino support.
“We’re [like] playing home games in the Philippines,” Christenson said.
The 31-year-old setter bared that even before coming to the country, he already noticed a constant presence of Filipino fans with strong admiration and support to the squad.
Middle blocker Taylor Averill couldn’t agree more.
“I couldn't love it more here genuinely. The treatment is good here. There’s no complaint for me.”
Averill even got a chance to rep some Team Philippine jackets in warmups that proved how much the 32-year-old American showed love to the Filipino fans.
[ALSO READ: VNL: USA’s Taylor Averill hopes to try one very Filipino thing during their stay in Manila]
Team USA libero Erik Shoji has nothing but positive remarks about their first visit in the country.
“We had so many expectations on this trip for the fans and the people here in the Philippines and they lived up to it.”
“The supporters are so crazy for volleyball in the best way possible. We’ve just felt the love,” Shoji added.
[ALSO READ: VNL: Team USA’s Erik Shoji shares admiration for Bryan Bagunas, Alas Pilipinas]
Team USA finished the Manila leg with a 2-1 record, winning their first two games against Brazil and Germany before falling to fellow crowd favorite Japan in their last outing.
[ALSO READ: VNL: Kento Miyaura, Japan make history after beating Team USA for the first time after 19 FIVB head-to-head games]
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