Under the bright lights of the Mall of Asia Arena and in front of an energized home crowd led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Alas Pilipinas made its long-awaited FIVB World Championship debut. But it was a baptism by fire.
Ranked 89th out to 98 teams in the world, the Philippine men’s national volleyball team bowed to world No. 40 Tunisia in straight sets, 13-25, 17-25, 23-25, on Friday’s opening day of Pool A play.
Despite the loss, signs of promise flickered in the third set, as coach Angiolino Frigoni—a seasoned Italian tactician with two Olympic stints—pushed his squad to compete more aggressively. Alas even took the lead, and was just a stop and a point short of winning a set.
Brian Bagunas led the charge with 23 points, including a string of powerful spikes that momentarily rattled the Tunisian defense. Mark Espejo added 9, but Alas struggled to find consistent rhythm and support beyond its lead duo.
Tunisia controlled the match with a balanced attack: 44 points from kills, 10 from blocks, and capitalized on 19 Philippine errors. Alas showed flashes of potential in service aces, edging Tunisia 5-2, but trailed across most categories.
Still, the crowd stood behind their team, roaring with every rally, undeterred by the final score.
Alas faces a steeper climb ahead. They battle world No. 23 Egypt next on September 16, then clash with powerhouse Iran, ranked 13th, on September 18.
For the Philippines, the journey has just begun. The scoreboard tells one story. The heart, another.
