ALAS Pilipinas Men showed a lot of fight in its world stage debut before losing to Tunisia, 13-25, 17-25, 23-25, in a game that raised the curtains on the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
Bryan Bagunas topscored with 23 points in his first game back after 384 days since suffering a knee injury in the 2024 SEA V.League home leg, leading a courageous stand by the hosts against the world's 43rd ranked team.
LOOK: President Marcos makes first serve to open FIVB Worlds
The 11-time African champions had the Philippines’ number off the bat with a 12-1 start despite missing top scorer Wassim Ben Tara, but the Filipinos came to life to make a game of it in the third set.
Outside hitter Oussama Ben Romdhane showed the way for Tunisia with 17 points to replicate their opening-day sweep of Puerto Rico in the 2022 FIVB Worlds.
Marck Espejo backstopped Bagunas on offense with nine points on eight attacks and one ace.
Veteran playmaker Owa Retamar posted 26 excellent sets in the debut loss, four short of Tunisian captain Khaled Ben Slimane that had 30.
The Nationals' valiant fight left head coach Angiolino Frigoni impressed even with one too many mistakes in the early goings of the match.
"Slowly but surely, we started to play our volleyball. Our quick attacks in the last set was what I would like from this team. They fight for every point, 25-23. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but at least that’s what I want from the team," Frigoni said.
"With the last set, I am happy. With the first two, I am disappointed but that was not really their game. I just didn’t feel good emotions from them [in the first set]."
World's first taste of PH volleyball
Alas Men gave Tunisia a run for its money in the third set, showing signs of life after a dismal two-set run by keeping it close and even leading 6-4 at one point.
The match was tied up on multiple occasions in the home stretch of Set 3 at 21-all before moving even closer to a breakthrough set win at 23-all.
When the going got tough, Tunisia banked on its one-two combo in power hitter Ben Romdhane and setter-slash captain Ben Slimene to deliver the game-winning attacks and fend off the hosts' late rally.
Still, it was a historic night for Philippine volleyball as a good-sized crowd that included President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos witnessed the country’s first appearance in the sport’s biggest stage.
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