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UP coach played major role in Espejo's road to Japan

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/05/27/espejo.jpg"/><figcaption>Former Ateneo star Marck Espejo shakes hands with Oita Miyoshi coach Ogawa Takashi. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu is best known in the country for his work in the University of the Philippines&#x27; women&#x27;s volleyball program.The coach took over the Lady Maroons ahead of the UAAP Season 80 tournament, guided the team through some growing pains, and helped turn Diana &quot;Tots&quot; Carlos into one of the most explosive players in the league.But apparently, the Kenyan coach also had a hand in bringing the top men&#x27;s volleyball player in the country, Marck Espejo, to Japan&#x27;s V1 League.Espejo, Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s ace player for five years, on Sunday signed a contract to play for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler for the 2018-19 season, in the process becoming the first Filipino player to see action for a Japanese club.It was thanks to Okumu that the team got wind of Espejo and his abilities. The Kenyan coach had worked for the Japanese club from 2006 to 2012, and was with the team when Weisse Adler represented Japan in the 2014 Asian Men&#x27;s Club Championship in Manila.&quot;I heard from the coach of UP, his name is Okumu from Kenya,&quot; Oita Miyoshi coach Ogawa Takashi said in a press conference Sunday. &quot;He said there is a good player in the Philippines.&quot;&quot;It is good timing, because in the Japan top league, we can get a foreigner, plus an Asian foreigner. So, nice timing, so we got Marck,&quot; he further explained.Japan&#x27;s volleyball league is currently going through a structural reform, and among the changes is that teams are now allowed to hire two imports – as long as one of them is Asian. Espejo caught Okumu&#x27;s eye as one player who could fit the Oita Miyoshi system.&quot;Coach Okumu recommended one player in the Philippines. &#x27;Yung kailangan nila, andito kay Marck,&quot; said Espejo&#x27;s coach in Ateneo and Cignal HD, Oliver Almadro. &quot;Fundamentals – receive, serve, block, hinahanap ni Coach Ogawa.&quot;&quot;Because Coach Okumu worked with them, he knows what they&#x27;re looking for,&quot; he added. &quot;So Coach Okumu recommended Marck to play for them.&quot;Although he was recommended by a former coach, Espejo still needed to earn his way to the Oita Miyoshi team. The five-time UAAP Most Valuable Player traveled to Japan for a tryout in December, and pushed through despite suffering a sprained ankle the night before he was supposed to leave.&quot;Before Christmas ata &#x27;yun, pero sadly, night before nung flight namin, na-sprain ako. Once lang ako nakapag-training with them,&quot; said Espejo.Despite being hampered by an injury, Espejo must have displayed his talent as Oita Miyoshi still took a chance on him, and signed him to a contract.But it was not just Oita Miyoshi that came calling for Espejo.Even last year – when he still had one season of eligibility left for the Blue Eagles – Espejo was already receiving offers from at least two Thailand club teams. Last month, Almadro was asked by an official from a Thai club for his ace player&#x27;s profile, which the Ateneo coach gladly provided.&quot;But nag-decide si Marck na he will be playing in Japan,&quot; said Almadro.&quot;Siguro, mas mahirap doon, pero he chose Japan,&quot; he added. &quot;We let him decide. So he chose Japan, siyempre, para mas lalo pa daw siyang ma-push forward.&quot;Espejo will still play for Cignal HD in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference before leaving for Japan in August. Oita Miyoshi&#x27;s season starts on October 27 until May 2019, after which Espejo expects to return to the Philippines just in time for the national team&#x27;s preparations for the Southeast Asian Games.

Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu is best known in the country for his work in the University of the Philippines' women's volleyball program.

Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu is best known in the country for his work in the University of the Philippines' women's volleyball program.

UP coach played major role in Espejo's road to Japan

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UP coach played major role in Espejo's road to Japan

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2018 11:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Marck Espejo

Godfrey Okumu

UAAP

UP Lady Maroons

Oita Miyoshi

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