Kim Malabunga shouldered the blame for Alas Pilipinas’ heartbreaking loss and expressed his deep regret.
The Philippines’ men’s national team came agonizingly close to a historic breakthrough, falling to Iran in five sets, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-22, with a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on the line.
What made the defeat even more painful was that the Filipinos had their moment to seize victory — only for it to be overturned by a successful challenge from the Iranians.
Malabunga had denied Ali Haghparast’s spike to give Alas Pilipinas a 20-18 lead in the fifth set.
But amid the team’s celebration and the cheers of 14,240 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Iran head coach Roberto Piazza challenged the play for a net touch.
Replay showed that after Malabunga’s monster block, his right hand grazed the net on the way down, nullifying the point and tying the set at 19.
Iran’s Haghparast and Yousef Kazemi then delivered the decisive points, sending their team to the Round of 16 and leaving the Filipino fans devastated.
“Hindi ko ma-explain kasi sobrang nada-down ako eh. Akin yun eh,” said Malabunga postgame.
“Dapat panalo na yun kaso na out of balance pa ako. Sorry. Sakin.”
Even in defeat, Malabunga found silver linings.
Alas Pilipinas earned the respect of the volleyball world after their stunning win over African champions Egypt and pushing World No. 16 Iran to the limit.
If there’s one lesson the team — and the nation — can take from this journey, it’s this: “Biggest lesson namin na huwag susuko kasi kaya pala.”
From starting the tournament as the 82nd-ranked nation to taking on some of the world’s top teams, Alas Pilipinas proved that with hard work, heart, and belief, anything is possible.
