Alas Pilipinas Eyes Stronger Play in FIVB Men’s Worlds

With fewer than 100 days before the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship kicks off in the Philippines, Alas Pilipinas head coach Angiolino Frigoni vowed the team would maximize their preparation for the global tournament.

The Philippines is set to host the world championship from Sept. 12 to 28, marking a historic moment for the country’s volleyball program.

“I don’t know if we have enough time,” Frigoni said Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We will do our best to be good there.”

Alas Pilipinas is coming off a stellar campaign in the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals, sweeping all three opponents — Indonesia’s Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, South Korea’s Hyundai Capital Skywalkers, and the Thailand national team.

“[In] the three matches, we had bad moments,” said Frigoni. “But we didn’t give up. We stayed there and we played, and that is what I like.”

The national squad capped its sweep with a hard-fought five-set victory over Thailand, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the final set with a crucial 4-0 rally.

Leo Ordiales sparked the turnaround with key attacks, while veteran Marck Espejo delivered an ace and later sealed the win after Buds Buddin’s clutch point put the Philippines at match point.

Espejo powered the offense with 30 points off 23 attacks, six aces, and a block, while Louie Ramirez and Steven Rotter added 15 and 14 markers, respectively.

Amorntep Konhan paced Thailand with 25 points, while teammates Chaiwat Thungkham and Kissada Nilsawai added 17 and 13 points.

In the world championship, the Philippines, currently ranked 59th in the world, faces a challenging Group A bracket against No. 16 Iran, No. 22 Egypt, and No. 39 Tunisia in the preliminary round.

“Please cheer for the Philippines because we need your help,” Frigoni appealed to the home crowd, underscoring the importance of local support.

This year marks the first time the country will host the men’s world championship, with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation emphasizing the event as a milestone for sports development and national pride.

Earlier in the day, Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi edged Hyundai Capital Skywalkers in another five-set match, 22-25, 25-12, 25-23, 20-25, 15-11.