This is what Alas Pilipinas’ FIVB Men’s World Championship debut means for Bryan Bagunas.
In 2019, Bryan Bagunas came up huge in propelling the Philippine men’s volleyball team to unprecedented heights at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
Before a capacity crowd at the Philsports Arena, the Bazooka exploded for 27 huge points against five-peat seeking Thailand in the semifinals, including the emphatic block and game-winning kill that sealed the historic win for the Philippines.
Bagunas and the national team went on to cop silver in that year’s SEA Games — a feat that became the defining moment for men’s volleyball in the Philippines.
Six years later, Bagunas would once again be at the forefront of another historic run with the national team, now known as Alas Pilipinas, as they debuted in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
One for the books
In his first appearance since a freak injury last year, Bryan Bagunas captained the historic Alas Pilipinas core that put up a brave stand in the World Championship on home soil, where they made history by stunning Egypt for their first-ever win in the global showpiece.
Bagunas and Alas Men even came close to entering the knockout Round of 16 as they pushed Iran to their limits, only to be denied another historic upset after a successful net touch challenge by Team Melli in the endgame.
“Sabi nga namin, makapanalo lang ng first set, history na. So ayun, nanalo pa kami ng isang game, then umabot sa ganitong klaseng game na nag-fifth set at may chance pa kaming makapasok ng Round of 16,” Bagunas said after Alas’ epic five-setter against Iran on Thursday, September 18.
On top of ushering in a bright new era for men’s volleyball, the World Championship also served as Bagunas’ reintroduction after his injury, with any concerns toward his health and fitness being quickly thrown out of the window.
Bagunas finished with an impressive 70 points (23.3 per game) in pool play, closely trailing Belgium’s Ferre Reggers (73 points; 24.3 per game) and Bulgaria’s Aleksandar Nikolov (71 points; 23.6 per game). Throughout their short but sweet run, the Bazooka used his veteran wits to poke through opposing defenses, while his heavy service game was crucial to disrupting offensive flows.
Given everything, Bagunas said that the World Championship is an experience that he will never forget in his volleyball career.
“I think ito na ‘yung pinaka-memorable na volleyball experience ko, lalo na kakagaling ko lang injury, kakabalik ko lang. As in! Parang more than a month pa lang ako with the team, so ang laking bagay nito para sakin,” Bagunas said.
Looking ahead, the Bazooka hopes that Alas Pilipinas can capitalize on the momentum they have gained through the World Championship — from levelling up their skill sets, to attracting the wider audience that Philippine men’s volleyball has long sought.
“Napakita naman namin kung anong mayroon ang men’s volleyball. I think ito na ‘yung simula para magtuloy-tuloy na ‘yung men’s volleyball. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ‘yung suporta ng ating mga kababayan para maipakita namin sa buong mundo na mayroon din tayong potential,” Bagunas said.
“Magandang experience ‘yung nangyari samin dito, pero unang-unang sinasabi samin ng mga coaches is wag kaming titigil. Kailangan everyday, every time na nagti-training kami, nandoon ‘yung improvement namin. Kailangan maging down-to-earth pa rin kami, kailangan every game, mapakita pa rin namin ‘yung best namin.
As a final word, Bryan Bagunas also made sure to thank the Filipino fans, who were in full force as Alas Men proved their worth at the World Championship. An average of 9,842 fans showed up to the SM Mall of Asia during Alas’ Pool A games, which included nearly 14,000 fans against Iran on Tuesday.
For the Alas skipper, it’s a full-circle moment, given that he hasn’t witnessed this level of support since they won the golden silver at the SEA Games.
“Speechless po, kasi last na na-feel ko ito is ‘yung 2019 SEA Games, as in! Sobrang nakaka-proud na maging Pilipino kung ganito ‘yung sumusuporta sa amin,” Bagunas said. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa kanila kasi nabo-boost nila kami sa loob ng court, at hindi namin in-expect na susuportahan talaga kami. Kahit ganito ‘yung mga kalaban namin, talagang sumuporta sila.”
Banner images courtesy of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Facebook.