ALAS Pilipinas' near-miss against Asian powerhouse Iran on Thursday night broke a lot of hearts, but it opened new doors for volleyball in a basketball-dominated country, said Patrick 'Pato' Gregorio.
A staunch supporter of the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB World Men’s Volleyball Championship, the Philippine Sports Commission chair is optimistic that the exposure of Alas Men at this level will be a huge lift in the development of the sport.
No place like home for Alas
“Hosting the event certainly had a major, direct impact on team performance, boosting confidence, morale, and overall development,” said Gregorio, a former PBA chairman. "The motivation gained from playing at home, in front of our own crowd, pushes our athletes to perform beyond their limits —inspiring a determination that overseas tournaments don’t quite provide
“Prior to the World Championships here, the men’s volleyball team had limited experience at the world level. Ngayon, nakikita, naririnig, at nararamdaman ng mga Pilipino na kaya natin ang ganitong level ng competition. 'Pag pinaghusayan natin, kaya nating manalo,” he added.
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Gregorio highlighted the Filipinos’ historic win over Egypt, which is ranked 27th in the world, and the five-set loss to Iran, ranked 16th, after an opening loss to No. 33 Tunisia in tje group stage.
That big breakthrough propelled the Philippines to No. 77, up 12 notches from its previous ranking, and the PSC chairman said the sky's the limit for men's volleyball.
“Very timely that we show the world that Filipinos can produce world-class talent in other sports besides weightlifting, gymnastics, and boxing. We also show them our world-class hospitality as a premium stage for global sports events. Lumalaki ang oportunidad para sa lahat kapag nagho-host tayo ng global sports events,” he said.
Gregorio also encourages the national team to use the heartbreaking loss to Iran as motivation for the future.
“Regardless of the loss, it was a very proud moment for the Philippines. We feel this pain because we dream. Alas Pilipinas has given us a new dream,” he said. “Sports can sometimes be cruel, but it strengthens our resolve, our core values, our love for Filipino athletes — our pride as a nation.”
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