Alas Pilipinas proved it belongs on the world stage, shocking reigning African champions Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, to keep its Round of 16 dreams alive on a Tuesday night to remember.
A major factor in the Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team’s first-ever win at the World Championship was the massive home crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, whose energy lifted the team to new heights.
The victory also gave the Philippines a major leap in the FIVB rankings, moving from 89th to 77th.
Having entered the tournament as hosts, Alas Pilipinas leveled their record to 1-1, collecting three points in Pool A. They have created a logjam with all four teams in the group now holding similar records.
This set up a do-or-die final day of pool play on Thursday, with only the top two teams advancing to the Round of 16. The Philippines will face World No.14 Iran at 5:30 PM, while Egypt and Tunisia clash at 1:30 PM.
“I laid on the ground because I was very happy. This is not just for the Philippines, this team was with me for 15 or 16 months and I saw how they improved,” said Alas Pilipinas head coach Angiolino Frigoni, who collapsed to the floor in pure bliss after the win.
“And I was waiting for that winning moment, to win one match to show everybody how much we improved in these 16 months — and that happened today.”
The first set set the tone for the historic victory. The hometown heroes saved four set points against World No.21 Egypt before Bryan Bagunas, Kim Malabunga, and Leo Ordiales delivered three straight points — a power tip, a block, and an ace, respectively — to clinch the set, 29-27.
“When we won the first set, it felt like the best game of our lives and that’s when we started to think that we can do this and win,” said Marck Espejo.
Egypt bounced back in the second set, 25-23, but Alas Pilipinas regained composure in the third, breaking away from a 20-all tie.
Espejo drilled three points in a 5-1 finish to put the Philippines a set away from triumph, 25-21.
In the fourth, the Nationals displayed impenetrable poise and composure, denying every Egyptian comeback attempt.
Bagunas and Espejo sealed the historic win with a monster hit through a three-man wall and a solid block on Abdelrahman Elhossiny, respectively, concluding a thrilling two-hour-and-17-minute match.
“I’m just so happy because this is not just a bounce-back performance for me but it was a bounce-back win for the Philippines,” said 22-year-old Leo Ordiales, who recovered from a two-point outing against Tunisia to score 21 points on 19 spikes and two aces.
Bagunas dominated once again, tallying 25 points on 23 spikes and two blocks, but this time, he had ample support.
Espejo added 13 points on nine spikes, three blocks, and an ace. Meanwhile, middle blockers Kim Malabunga and Lloyd Josafat contributed seven and five points, respectively.
Setter Owa Retamar posted a 39-percent setting efficiency, helping propel the Philippines from being the deepest diver in the FIVB rankings after the loss to Tunisia to becoming the highest jumper in the standings.
And through it all, converted libero Josh Ybañez anchored their defense.
For Egypt, Seifeldin Hassan Aly led with 15 points, while Mohamed Osman Elhaddad added 14.
