ALAS Pilipinas Men beat Vietnam in another fiercely fought five-setter, 27-25, 14-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12, to win the bronze medal for the second straight leg of the SEA V.League on Sunday.
READ: Alas Men head coach Frigoni in the eyes of his players
The Angiolino Frigoni-led squad fought bravely while playing without injured captain Bryan Bagunas and Japan-bound Marck Espejo to match its podium finish in Leg 1 in Manila last week.
Stepping up in their absences was the decorated collegiate trio of reigning SEA V.League 2nd best outside hitter Buds Buddin, UAAP Rookie of the Year Jade Disquitado, and NCAA Season 99 MVP Louie Ramirez.
Buddin, who took the 1st best outside hitter nod this time around, fired a team-best 24 points on 22 attacks, one block and one ace.
Ramirez and Disquitado made sure they'd leave a strong impression not only in the college ranks but in the international stage with 19 and 16 markers, respectively.
Both men’s and women’s teams landed on the regional podium in all four combined legs of the tournament this year — a first for the Philippine national team program.
Frigoni's first competition as Alas head coach ends with back-to-back podium finishes, albeit only picking up two wins in six matches over the two legs in the Philippines and Indonesia.
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