IN the eyes of many, the Philippines was simply a welcoming host of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
A nation where women's volleyball is the fastest-growing sport learned to embrace the men’s game through the three years it hosted the Volleyball Nations League. On Tuesday, its 82nd-ranked team introduced itself to the rest of the world.
READ Alas Men make history after taking first FIVB Worlds win vs Egypt
Not even Alas Pilipinas Men mainstay Marck Espejo could believe his eyes when the host team made history in volleyball’s grandest stage with a 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 upset of Egypt on Tuesday.
“Hindi rin po talaga namin inisip na manalo ng game. Kumbaga, sabi nga ni coach, nothing to lose po talaga kami sa world championship. Blessing na rin po na nothing to lose pero kami po, nakakapag-perform,” Espejo said.
“Ngayon, na-feel namin na kaya pala namin dumikit paisa-isa. Parang extra na lang po, bonus na lang po na nanalo kami ngayon.”
Alas team captain Bryan Bagunas added: “Ito nga, history nga kaya sobrang saya na naging parte ako ng history na to. Sobrang nakaka-speechless ‘tong panalo namin.”
Dating back to a year before the global conclave, the goal for the Nationals was clear: fight, compete and maybe try to win a set.
Now that they’ve done more than just that, and can even reach the knockout stage with another win over Asian giant Iran, the heralded Bagunas-Espejo tandem believes that this new era of Philippine volleyball is only getting started.
The Filipinos may be undersized and even short of world-class skill, but such a historic win proves that the Philippine team owns the biggest heart.
“Meron po talagang ibubuga 'yung Philippines. Hindi man ganun katangkad or kasing-physically fit man, pero I hope na ‘tong hosting ng world championship, makakuha pa po ng mga gustong maglaro ng volleyball and hopefully, mag-represent ng Philippines kapag wala na kami dito,” Espejo said.
“Malayo, malayo pa mararating natin sobra kasi tingin ko sobrang underdog ng Pilipinas,” Bagunas added. “Pero sa tiyaga at sa suporta ng mga Pinoy, nandun’n na tayo. Parang kaya nating ibigay yung best natin at kaya natin makipag-compete sa high level.”
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