WHEN the story of Philippine volleyball is told, the year 2019 will have its very own climactic chapter.
Back in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Philippines did the unthinkable in men's volleyball by dethroning Asian powerhouse Thailand in an unforgettable five-set semifinals comeback on home soil.
That Cinderella run ultimately ended with a silver medal after the Filipinos fell ever so short against gold medalist Indonesia in straight sets.
Still, the win over the Thais didn't just earn the country a medal, but also re-ignited the flame of a sporting nation that there'd soon be an unprecedent ascent in the men's game for the rest of the world to bear witness to.
Two pioneering members of that 2019 team who are still donning the national colors to this day are captain Bryan Bagunas and Owa Retamar.
READ: Alas Men claims big win over Vietnam in first game under Frigoni
And after a victorious first act with a new-look squad under veteran Italian mentor Angiolino Frigoni in the 2024 SEA V.League against Vietnam, the men's team's first-ever win in the competition, the dynamic duo sees traces of 2019 slowly re-emerging.
And they hope that, yet again, the fire and desire will be intensified from here.
"Nakaka-miss ‘yung 2019 and nakakatuwa kasi new set of players ngayon. Kumbaga, collegiate halos lahat, lalo na nung nilabas si kuya Bryan (sa Set 4) so nakakatuwa kasi nilaban namin kahit mga bata ‘yung kasama ko," Retamar said.
Bagunas added: "Sobrang proud ako sa (mga bata) kasi siyempre, first time nila sa national team at ang ganda ng performance na pinakita nila. Bilang senior nila, sobrang proud ako and alam kong may patutunguhan yung men’s volleyball in the future."
Alas cooking up a recipe for success
Just two months into being under the wing of the 70-year-old Frigoni, described by his players as a strict and sharp shot-caller, the fresh approach has been nothing short of transformative for Alas Pilipinas.
"Sobrang taas ng tingin ko sa team ko ngayon kasi unang-una, may sobrang galing at strict kami na head coach. Sinamahan pa nila coach Dante [Alinsunurin], coach Odjie [Mamon], coach Dex [Clamor], kaya nakakatuwa at nakaka-boost din (ng morale) na mag-training lagi," said Retamar, talking about their fully-loaded coaching staff.
"May mga same na ginagawa, may mas in-improve pa, kaya maganda ‘yung program ng team ngayon.”
Simply put, the highs of 2019 are within reach once more - and may very well be just the floor of the Philippines' potential.
As Retamar put it, "Tumataas na talaga ‘yung level ng men’s volleyball sa Pilipinas na kahit collegiate mga players, kaya sumabay sa international, mga ganitong laban.”
And even if he's already a champion at home and overseas, Bagunas believes the pride of playing for flag and country, more so on home turf, remains incomparable.
From here on out, Alas' ace spiker believes anything and everything they'll learn from a 'world-class' leader like Frigoni can give him and the national team hope of reliving their 2019 glory days.
And maybe even better.
"Sobrang natutuwa ako kasi nire-represent ko na naman 'yung country. Every player naman, ito yung dream so sobrang napa-proud ako sa sarili ko and natutuwa ako na nakabalik na rin ako," said Bagunas.
He added: "Ibang-iba talaga 'yung mga tinuturo niya, talagang pang-world-class kasi alam naman natin si coach Angelo, isa siyang world champion, kaya sobrang malaking tulong para sa amin kasi mas natututo kami makapaglaro ng high level."
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