PROMISING, but not good enough.
This was Alas Pilipinas Men head coach Angiolino Frigoni’s frank assessment on how Philippine volleyball stands against the rest of the world.
The 70-year-old ushered in a new era for the national team in style with a 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23 win over Vietnam - the Philippines’ maiden victory in the men’s edition of the SEA V.League since its 0-6 debut last year.
READ Alas Men claims big win over Vietnam in first game under Frigoni
But after seeing his team for the first time in a tournament, Frigoni admitted his team is a long way from where they want to be.
“I think we are very far from the high level. We have to compete with this level now. Maybe in the future, we can be better, but now this is our level. While we want to be better for another level, we have to win in this level.
“It’s not that we can start from here and go there. We have to go step-by-step. And if we show, because it’s just the first match that we played her and we have to play the other two matches, if we show that we can play against them, then okay it’s a good start.”
Pursuit of progress continues
Alas Pilipinas’ 14-man SEA V.League squad has an average age of 23 years old — the youngest alongside Indonesia in the four-team field.
The nationals’ oldest player? It's 2019 SEA Games silver medalist Kim Malabunga, 28. The youngest? UAAP Rookie of the Year Jade Disquitado at 20.
With such an array of youth and experience at his disposal, the present for Alas sure bodes well for the future.
“I can see that there is a potential here. There is no potential to compete for the first team in the world, but now we are in this level and there is a potential to compete in this level.
“Now, we will see. They are still young players, some still playing in the university. Now, I’m here and I’ll try to make them better and we will see what happens in the future.
“I am not a god. I am a coach, so I cannot see what will be in the future.”
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