Alas Pilipinas Men stepped into the spotlight during the grand awarding ceremony of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday night.
The second-best Asian team in the 32-nation tournament had its moment on the global stage, taking part in the symbolic handover of the World Championship trophy.
Player by player, the team passed it up the steps until it reached the back-to-back champions, Italy.
Fittingly, the journey of the trophy was led by Alas Pilipinas’ Italian head coach, Angiolino Frigoni — once a member of Italy’s national program and a key mentor to newly crowned MVP Alessandro Michieletto, whom he guided to a victorious U-23 World Championship campaign in 2021.
From Frigoni, the trophy made its way through the hands of the players before landing with Alas captain Bryan Bagunas, who shared a brief but meaningful exchange with Italy’s captain Simone Giannelli before handing it over.
The ceremony reached its crescendo with a festive performance from indie folk-pop band Ben&Ben, who energized the crowd with hits like Triumph, Ride Home, and Kapangyarihan. As their music filled the arena, the Azzurri basked in glory, celebrating their fifth World Championship title.
For the individual awards, the lights dimmed, and spotlights illuminated each honoree on separate platforms.
At the center stood Michieletto, who capped the night by being named both tournament MVP and one of the Best Outside Hitters.
It was an evening that celebrated not only Italy’s enduring dominance but also the unifying spirit and passion of volleyball.
And for the Philippines, the event was a resounding success — showcasing the country’s ability to host a world-class tournament with top-tier venues, seamless organization, and an electrifying atmosphere. Fans and players alike left with memories to last a lifetime.
