Alas Pilipinas may find a slight opening in their 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship debut with Tunisia missing star scorer Wassim Ben Tara.
Still, without Tara, the African powerhouse remains a dangerous foe with its depth and experience.
The absence of Tara, who led Tunisia in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, offers some relief, but the road ahead is far from easy. Veteran spikers Hamza Nagga and Elyes Karamosli remain to spearhead a squad that has long carried Tunisia’s banner on the world stage.
Opposite spiker Nagga and outside hitter Karamosli backstopped Tara in Tunisia’s 2021 African Men’s Volleyball Championship campaign, helping the team extend its record as the continent’s most successful nation with 11 championships.
The Philippines, still in the midst of its European training camp for the world tilt, will clash with Tunisia on opening day of the world meet slated from September 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena.
The Pool A clash between Alas Pilipinas and Tunisia opens the World Championship at 6:00 PM on September 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, followed by a first-ever FIVB opening ceremony featuring K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR and Karencitta.
While Tunisia failed to defend its title in the African Men’s Volleyball Championship in 2023 following a fifth-place campaign, the team still managed to stay consistent throughout the following circuit to remain in the Top 50 of the FIVB men’s volleyball rankings.
The 42nd-ranked Tunisia stands as the 11th-highest among nations that didn’t secure direct qualification for the 32-team World Championship in Manila, the largest FIVB edition ever, organized under the leadership of PNVF and AVC president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara.
Tunisia kicked off its training camp in May, giving the team a full four months to prepare for the World Championship.
Also part of Pool A are World No. 13 Iran and No. 23 Egypt.
Tickets are available via the official website https://www.philippineswch2025.com/.
