At a moment when the Philippine men’s national volleyball team seemed trapped in a cycle of near misses, hope arrived in the form of Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni.
Signed by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation in June 2024, Frigoni’s arrival marked a bold step toward stabilizing Alas Pilipinas and realizing its long-elusive potential on the international stage.
For years, the team had knocked on the doors of global relevance, only to be met with frustration.
Back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the SEA Games, missed podium opportunities in the SEA V.League, and inconsistent performances under seasoned mentors like Odjie Mamon and Brazilian tactician Sergio Veloso had left the Nationals perpetually just short of glory.
Even with Frigoni at the helm, the challenges persisted. A winless campaign in the 2025 AVC Men’s Volleyball Champions League and consecutive fourth-place finishes in the 2025 SEA V.League underscored the uphill battle that awaited the Philippines ahead of hosting the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship.
But on Tuesday night, all those struggles found a cathartic release.
In front of a raucous crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Frigoni lay sprawled on the court as Alas Pilipinas achieved a historic breakthrough: a stunning upset of defending African champions Egypt, securing the country’s first-ever World Championship victory and keeping its Round of 16 hopes alive.
“I laid on the ground because I was very happy. This was not just for you and for the Filipinos, but this team was with me for 16 months, and I saw them improve every day,” the 71-year-old Italian mentor said, beaming with pride.
“I was waiting for them to win one match to show everyone how we’ve grown over these 16 months.”
For a program long searching for validation, the victory carried the weight of long-awaited vindication — even for a seasoned coach like Frigoni, a former Olympic head coach.
“That happened today. I’m very happy. I am 71, and I’ve been to many World Championships, but every team has its story. For me, I had to lay down on the floor because I was so happy,” he added.
Despite the triumph, Frigoni acknowledged the team’s ongoing challenges. Tying their record at 1-1 in a highly competitive Pool A after a disappointing opener against Tunisia last Friday was a morale boost — but it was far from the finish line.
“You have to understand that beating Egypt today doesn’t mean we are the best team in the world. We are the same team as before: sometimes playing very well, sometimes not. We have to reach consistency at this level to truly compete. Once we are stable, then we can discuss bigger goals,” Frigoni emphasized.
“Today was just one match. We are happy we won, but we know exactly what we need to improve.”
#WATCH: Angiolino Frigoni celebrates after the win: “I was so happy. This isn’t just for the Filipinos — this team has grown with me for 16 months.” 🇵🇭🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/j8ShPtoAQA
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#MWCH2025 #Sambansa pic.twitter.com/L4gm4r8Lbp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 16, 2025
