A HISTORIC moment unfolded Tuesday evening as the Alas Pilipinas Men’s Volleyball Team earned their first-ever win at the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, shocking World No. 21 Egypt.
Backed by a thunderous home crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the tournament’s second-lowest ranked squad—who was granted an entry as hosts—pulled off one of the most surprising upsets of the competition.
The Philippine men’s team once again proved that no odds are too great to overcome, handing Egypt a stunning four-set loss, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, and showing the world what Filipino grit looks like on the global stage.
Seize the Moment
Initially, hopes weren’t too high, especially with Egypt holding set point at 24-23. However, a crucial service error from the visiting team gave Alas Pilipinas an unexpected opening they eagerly seized.
What followed was a historic finish to the first set, as the Filipinos claimed their first-ever set win in FIVB history—sealed by Kim Malabunga’s clutch service ace, ending it at 29-27.
While the Philippines dropped the second set, their relentless grit, unshakable determination, and fiery spirit were unmistakable—keeping the set close, 23-25, and laying the groundwork for a possible breakthrough win.
Not letting the earlier opportunity slip from memory, Alas Pilipinas dug deep to regain their composure in the third set, breaking free from a 20-all deadlock to close it out and lead, 25-21.
Fueled by rising confidence, the Nationals held firm in the fourth set, showing unshakable poise and resilience as they shut down every Egyptian rally—securing the historic win once and for all.
Bryan Bagunas led the offense with 25 points, delivering 23 attacks and two blocks, while 22-year-old Leo Ordiales chipped in 21 points off 19 attacks and two service aces. Setter Owa Retamar also made a huge impact, tallying an impressive 40 excellent sets.
All Worth It
The win enabled the Philippines to even their record at 1-1, creating a four-way tie in Pool A, with all teams now sharing identical standings. It also marked the end of a 64-year drought for the country on the global volleyball stage.
Based on the latest FIVB rankings, the triumph boosted the Philippines from 89th to 77th in the world. Alas Pilipinas head coach Angiolino Frigoni was visibly emotional after the match, as the result served as proof that all their dedication and effort had finally paid off.
“I laid on the ground because I was very happy. This was not just for you and for the Filipinos, but this team was with me for 16 months, and I saw how they improved,” said the two-time world champion with Italy.
“I was waiting for them to win one match to show to everybody how we improved in these 16 months. That happened today. I’m very happy for it.”
“I am 71 and I went to how many world championships, but every team has a story. Every team has a background, and for me, I had to lay down on the floor because I was so happy,” Frigoni added.
Finish Strong
Amid the celebrations, Frigoni stressed the need to stay focused and finish the tournament strong—reminding both the players and the hopeful Filipino fans not to let a single win cloud the bigger goal, with expectations for another upset running high.
“You have to understand that beating Egypt today doesn’t mean we are the best team in the world. We are the same team as before: sometimes playing very well, sometimes not,” the tactician said.
“We have to reach consistency at this level to truly compete. Once we are stable, then we can discuss bigger goals. Today was just one match. We are happy we won, but we know exactly what we need to improve,” he added.
For now, Alas Pilipinas must put this victory on hold as they return to the drawing board to prepare for another tough challenge against World No. 14 Iran on Thursday, with just 24 hours to prepare.
With tied records across the pool, the final day of group play becomes a do-or-die scenario, as only the top two teams will move on to the Round of 16. The Philippines will face Iran at 5:30 p.m., while Egypt takes on Tunisia at 1:30 p.m.
