Joe Bangit has long believed in the talent of Filipino volleyball players. Now, the Clearskiiin head coach is bringing more than 14 years of experience in the United States back to the Philippines, hoping to help elevate the local game.
With an international coaching background, Bangit aims to bring a fresh perspective while maximizing the strengths of Filipino players and embracing the passion that has made volleyball one of the country's most beloved sports.
“I knew that talent is amazing here, and I wanna bring just an international flavor. It’s a great combination. We just have great floor defense and great and talented players,” said Bangit following the UV Smashers’ successful debut against 3B Construction last Thursday.
Bangit spent more than 14 years coaching in the United States, working across multiple levels of competition before returning to the Philippines to share his expertise with the local volleyball community.
His son, NJ Bangit, has also made his way into the Philippine volleyball scene after being recruited by De La Salle University to play for the Green Spikers in the UAAP.
Bangit’s appointment came through Clearskiiin team manager Dexter Clamor, whom he met when Clamor was scouting Filipino talent in the United States for Alas Pilipinas. Their connection eventually opened the door for the veteran coach to bring his experience to the local game.
Beyond the abundance of skilled players, Bangit has quickly discovered the passion of Filipino volleyball fans, whose energy has further fueled his excitement about coaching in the country.
That enthusiasm comes at an opportune time, with the Premier Volleyball League integrating select Spikers’ Turf matches into its playing days this season, providing greater exposure for men's volleyball alongside the country's premier women's league.
“I learned that the Philippine fans are top-tier, like S-tier fans, and that’s part of the reason why I wanted to coach in the Philippines. The fans are absolutely amazing. I love it. I love it a lot,” said Bangit.
He got a firsthand glimpse of that passion at the Ynares Center, where spectators waiting for the next game also cheered for the UV Smashers during their match against the Event Masters.
Bangit made a winning start to his Philippine coaching stint as Clearskiiin recovered from an opening-set loss to defeat 3B Construction, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, and claim its first victory in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Despite the slow start, Bangit was encouraged by what he saw from the UV Smashers, who had been together for just over a month. After dropping the first set, Clearskiiin regrouped, made the necessary adjustments, and gradually found its rhythm to complete the four-set victory.
The veteran coach credited his players for sticking to their training and responding well to the adjustments made throughout the match, a promising sign for a squad still building chemistry under his leadership.
“Just honestly, to remember their training. This game was already hard enough. We felt that 3B, they’re a good team, but there wasn’t anything outstanding in what they were doing to us while we were losing, so we played our game. That’s what we did,” he said.
“I felt like we were able to regroup starting in Set 2, and they did exactly what we did in practice. We made some adjustments as we went, but again, I’m proud of their adjustments.”
With their opening win secured, Bangit believes Clearskiiin still has plenty of room to improve as the team continues to develop its chemistry and understanding of his system.
For now, the coach is focused on building on the UV Smashers’ promising start and ensuring that the team continues to make steady progress as the conference unfolds.
