CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Indonesia will enter Friday’s match against Alas Pilipinas as the heavy favorite after capturing the AVC Men’s Cup title last June 28 in India.
Despite playing just its first match of the 2026 Southeast Asian V Cup, Indonesia secured the first semifinal berth in Pool A with a commanding 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 sweep of Cambodia at the Candon City Arena here on Thursday.
The straight-sets victory earned Indonesia the full three match points, guaranteeing a place in the crossover semifinals of the tournament hosted by Candon City Mayor Eric Singson and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. Cambodia, meanwhile, finished pool play with a 1-1 record and two match points.
Still, interim head coach Reidel Toiran wants Indonesia to approach its 5:30 p.m. showdown against the Philippines with the same level of intensity.
“Tomorrow we still prepare, we have a meeting with the Philippines. We still try the composition for the team that will play the best. But we still have many positions not fixed yet,” said the Cuban mentor, who took over the team in June for the AVC Men’s Cup and the SEA V Cup while head coach Sergio Veloso continues to process his work visa.
“After the AVC Men’s Cup, we had a little break because they need a break one week. We only have one week or five days to prepare before coming here. Not too much, but still we try to do the maximum because we respect the competition.”
Indonesia made only two changes from the squad that won the AVC Men’s Cup, replacing Dawuda Alaihimas Salam and Jasen Natanael Kilanta with Dio Zulfikri and Sigit Ardian.
Reigning AVC Men’s Cup MVP Boy Arnez picked up where he left off, scoring a team-high 14 points, while Farhan Halim added 13.
Hendra Kurniawan contributed 12 points, while Rama Fauzan and Fauzan Nibras chipped in eight apiece in the victory.
Toiran believes the AVC Men’s Cup triumph is only the beginning for Indonesia’s men’s volleyball program, which is in the middle of a generational transition.
“This was amazing because we have half-team juniors, half-team seniors. This is a new try to regenerate the team. The first time in the history of Indonesia, the champion for the AVC Men’s Cup. We are growing more,” said Toiran.
