The Philippine Men’s Volleyball Team – ranked 61st and last for the tourney – lost a heartbreaker to world’s 14th-ranked Iran (25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-22) in the recently-concluded 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. (Congrats to Italy! More on that soon.) The loss killed our men’s team’s chances to reach the rarified space in the round of 16, but it has nonetheless captured the hearts of the growing number of fans they have acquired throughout the country. That 5-set loss to Iran may have resulted in the early exit of the Alas Pilipinas Team from the prestigious 32-nation World Championship, but there is joy and pure excitement in the terrific fight they demonstrated, and the clear prospects of a truly internationally-competitive National team.
Already, the team is looking forward to the SEA Games this December in volleyball-crazy Thailand. The Philippines has reached the podium only twice so far (both silvers); in 1977 in Kuala Lumpur and in 2019 here in the Philippines. This time, the Alas Pilipinas men’s team will be aiming for the gold, despite the Thais’ homecourt advantage.
The Philippines automatically qualified in the FIVB Men’s World Championship by virtue of its selection as host for the tournament. However, no one gave Team Alas Pilipinas much of a chance considering its world ranking then at No. 88. During the draw, they were lumped in Group A, along with Iran, Egypt and Tunisia, all much-higher-ranked than Team Alas Pilipinas.
But despite the low expectations due to their low rating, Alas Pilipinas fought tooth-and-nail to almost get the last slot for the round of 16. It lost its first game to 24th-ranked Tunisia in straight sets 13-25, 17-25, 23-25. That proved to be a great learning experience on international competition.
That loss would release the fire in them as they would outplay 20th-ranked Egypt 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21. Playing loose, like there was nothing to lose, as Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni professed, would work wonders for the team. With that mental monkey off their backs, the team suddenly went wild.
Finally, against the solid Iranians ranked 14th in the world, they lost but only by the skin of their teeth 25-21, 21-25, 24-17, 23-25, 20-22. Alas Pilipinas had the Iranians at set point 6 times (!), but they just couldn’t close the set and the match each time. Clearly, it was the lack of international experience that set them up short.
But the traces of greatness, the potential to uplift local standards have been set. Kudos to the team led by team captain and top gun, Bryan Bagunas, who ranked among the tournaments in scoring (no. 3 with 70 pts), attacking (no. 3 with 61 pts), and blocking (no.7 with 6 pts). Congrats to Josh Retamar, the team’s precision setter (no. 4 with 111 successful pts); to veteran Mark Espejo (no. 4 in receiving with 24 pts, no. 7 in blocking with 6 pts); and to the defense specialist Steven Ybanez, (no. 7 in digging with 21, and no. 5 in receiving with 23 pts). Kudos are in order too for the high-flying duo of Leo Ordiales and Kim Malabunga, plus the rest of the crew; for a gargantuan effort that will surely inspire more of the next generation to bang the volleyball. Finally, I would like to say a special thanks to Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, who instilled in our athletes a fighting spirit that broke the proverbial camel’s back; that our brand of volleyball can be at par with the behemoths of the world; that Filipinos can excel in this sport as well.
Given the team’s upward trajectory, it seems clear that one of the biggest hurdle to the team’s success – or for any athlete or team of athletes for that matter – is the exposure to international competition, or the lack thereof. It is evident that the previous 2 decades were not good to Philippine Volleyball because of the fact that there were 2 volleyball organizations trying to gain international recognition as the country’s legit national volleyball federation.
The emergence of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has given Philippine Volleyball a big boost. After 2 decades of in-fighting, there is a semblance of order, and there is more focus on the players as opposed to the dirty sports politics. It is the hope of the athletes, as well as the young fans with dreams of following the footsteps of the banging Bagunas, the electrifying Espejo, or the likes of Retamar or Ybanez, that the Federation continues to move forward to achieve international recognition and sports excellence. Last year, it was our Team Alas Ladies who made waves. Now, we have their male counterparts following suit. Small, humble steps, but focused in the right direction. With Tats Suzara now steering the Federation, it looks like things are finally getting brighter for Philippine Volleyball.
Cover pic courtesy of ABS-CBN. Other pics courtesy of: Volleyball World, Inquirer Sports, Philippine News Agency and ABS-CBN. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
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