Alas Pilipinas enters the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship with nothing to lose and everything to fight for.
Ranked second-lowest in the 32-nation field, the Filipinos carry no heavy expectations—only the hunger to prove themselves. For Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni, the pressure rests not on his squad, but on their seasoned opponents who must defend their standing among the world’s elite.
The Philippines will make its World Championship debut on September 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against world No. 43 Tunisia, followed by a clash with No. 23 Egypt on September 16 and a showdown with Asian powerhouse and world No. 13 Iran on September 18.
“We don’t have anything to lose in this experience,” Frigoni said during the team’s media day at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila.
“The teams that have something to lose are our opponents. They must be very relaxed to play and be confident.”
Frigoni noted that the team has already made significant strides since the pool was first assembled, gradually finding its rhythm and learning to rely on one another in preparation for the challenges ahead.
The 71-year-old tactician highlighted their European training camp—which brought them to Morocco, Romania, and Portugal—as invaluable in shaping their growth. The stint allowed the Filipinos to test themselves against taller, more experienced squads with strong serves, solid blocking, and disciplined defensive systems.
“It was very interesting. We were in Morocco first, then Romania, and after in Portugal. It was like a school for us because we played against teams with tall players, with a good serve, with a good block, and with good defensive strategy, especially Romania and Portugal,” Frigoni shared.
“I saw improvements, especially in defense and block organization. We serve better now. We don’t make many mistakes at the line. I really saw improvements.”
Beyond preparation, Frigoni also emphasized the historic significance of hosting the World Championship in the Philippines for the first time. He believes the Filipino crowd’s energy and passion could serve as a crucial weapon for Alas Pilipinas.
“We will see in the MOA Arena—first time in the World Championship. Filipinos have never been in the World Championship in their volleyball life. There will be emotion, I don’t know. I hope we will react well anyway,” he said.
“So, what I’m telling the Filipinos: please come. We need you. As supporters, we need you because we are going to fight together against Tunisia. Don’t let us fight alone.”
