Long before they became household names, Bryan Bagunas and Alyssa Valdez shared a dream: to raise the level of Philippine volleyball — men’s and women’s, indoor and beach alike.
Now, that shared vision takes center stage once again, this time as ambassadors for the upcoming 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Their partnership comes full circle after years of championing the sport in their own ways. Valdez, a trailblazer in women’s volleyball and a beloved Ateneo icon, has been instrumental in the sport’s rise — not just for women, but for the men’s side as well.
Since November 2020, she has served as president of Spikers’ Turf, the country’s first professional men’s volleyball league, where Bagunas currently plays for Cignal.
Fast forward to today, both stars are back on the same side — not across the court, but united in purpose. Bagunas and Valdez will serve as official ambassadors when the Philippines hosts the FIVB Men’s World Championship this September, marking a historic milestone in the local sports scene.
Valdez was formally introduced as the newest ambassador during a press conference held on Monday, June 9, at Novotel Manila. She joins Bagunas and Eya Laure, who were previously announced in March.
Bagunas believes Valdez’s involvement is a game-changer — not just for the global tournament, but for the continued growth of men’s volleyball in the country.
“For me, kapag volleyball kasi, siyempre iniisip agad natin si Ly. Talagang malaking bagay yung na i-ambag niya sa Philippine volleyball. Masasabi ko na isa siya sa nagangat or nagpasikat ng volleyball dito sa Pilipinas. We are so proud and happy na nandito sila with us kasi kailangan talaga siya to become one of the ambassadors,” said Bagunas, who is currently recovering from a left knee injury sustained during the SEA V.League last August.
For Valdez, the Philippines’ hosting of the FIVB Men’s World Championship — especially through the ongoing Alas Pilipinas Invitationals kicking off Tuesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum — serves as a clear sign of how far the sport has come.
“I think this Invitational is a testament that we’re a really big volleyball community here in the Philippines. It’s just so nice to cap it off also with a World Championship. Based on the last finals in the UAAP, from the Spiker Turf finals din, nakakaproud talaga,” Valdez shared.
“It’s just so nice na ganon yung track na tinatahak din ng men’s volleyball. It’s really slowly, gradually, but surely improving for men’s volleyball and the volleyball community. Not just the indoor, but especially also with beach volleyball,” she added.
Men’s volleyball in the Philippines has indeed seen remarkable strides recently.
The rivalry between Cignal and Criss Cross in the Spikers’ Turf has drawn increasing attention, and a record-breaking 14,517 fans witnessed the dramatic Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals between National University and Far Eastern University last May.
As part of the run-up to the World Championship, the Alas Pilipinas Men’s team will test its mettle in a high-stakes pocket tournament from June 10 to 12.
The lineup features formidable opponents: Korean V-League champions Hyundai Capital Skywalkers, Indonesia Proliga titleholders Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi Volleyball Club, and the Thai national team.
#WATCH: Bryan Bagunas says it means a lot to have Alyssa Valdez—one of the pioneers who elevated Philippine volleyball—with them as an ambassador for the #MWCH 👏🏐
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#Sambansa pic.twitter.com/yJBPaCbJKq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 9, 2025
