By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Philippine volleyball fans, coach Tai Bundit is back.
The former Ateneo Lady Eagles and Creamline Cool Smashers chief tactician is ready for a highly-anticipated comeback in the PHL volleyball scene confirmed last April 18, 2023.
After multiple sources already announced the news that Bundit arrived in the country last weekend, spin.ph and Inquirer Sports followed it up and confirmed the recent development two days after.
Bundit, who was highly regarded as one of the best coaches to handle any team in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and the UAAP, said that he will be handling consultancy duties for both the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and Creamline for the upcoming PVL conference.
However, it is still yet to be known whether Bundit will be named as part of either club’s coaching staff or will mainly focus on consultancy works in the office.
Several years ago, Bundit was already making noise in the PVL when he steered the Cool Smashers to three championship titles.
Aside from his three championships at the professional level, Bundit also led the young Ateneo squad to two UAAP titles.
Bundit was supposed to be the assistant coach of the PHL women’s national volleyball team but had to file a letter of resignation due to family concerns in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic last 2021.
After leaving the country, Bundit resumed his pro coaching career in Thailand and led the Nakhon Ratchasima club to several championships.
The most impressive feat during that stellar coaching run for Bundit was that he led both Nakhon’s men’s and women’s teams to at least one title in the Volleyball Thailand league.
Nakhon was also the volleyball club that tapped the talents of Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Mylene Paat during one regular season last January 2022.
