Osaka Bluteon and Ryujin Nippon stalwarts Yuji Nishida and Tomohiro gave some candid thoughts toward the Alas Pilipinas men’s team after their recent exhibition matches.
All’s well that ends well for Alas Pilipinas Men’s after wrapping up their two-day Invitationals against the Japan V.League’s Osaka Bluteon (formerly the Panasonic Panthers).
After all, the Nationals got much-needed experience heading into the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship on home soil. The Blueton come in as six-time V.League champions, on top of coming from a volleyball powerhouse in Japan.
That, plus a major stamp of approval from not one, but two Japanese national team mainstays in wing spiker Yuji Nishida, and libero Tomohiro Yamamoto. The pair will be suiting up for Osaka in the V.League, alongside national teammate and veteran middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi.
Day 2 was an easy win for Osaka, but Day 1 was closer than expected, with Alas keeping up for the first two sets. It was also Osaka’s first time to face the Nationals, only to get a soft reality check.
With a sudden dogfight, Nishida took that as a challenge for Osaka to improve themselves heading into Day 2. So while they were both losses, no one can take away the Nationals’ valiant stand against the Bluteon.
“I matched with the first time against the Philippine national team, and we were pushed [to the limit]. I do not know what happened to the players, and their [skill] level so we’ll [strive to be] more high level in the serve, block, defense, and everything,” Nishida admitted following Osaka’s 27-29, 23-25, 12-25 win over Alas Men’s on Day 1.
And it’s through this that Nishida got a firsthand view of the Nationals’ potential. It’s something that needs polishing, but the star spiker knows these aces can play.
“The Philippine national team is…not always, but sometimes they have a very good performance and every single attack [counts]. Their outside and middle blocker is very good, high level,” Nishida said.
Likewise, Yamamoto acknowledged the “tough moments” they encountered against Alas Pilipinas Men’s on Day 1. What the Filipinos lack in height, they compensate with good skills, he said.
“They’re not too much of a physical team height-wise, but they are very skilled and it was a very good game, a very tough game, so it was great,” said the Ryujin Nippon’s floor patroller.
Win-win situation
And as Alas Pilipinas Men’s gets high-level mileage, the Bluteon also gets to establish team chemistry ahead of the V.League in October.
“We’re starting a new season in the Japan league and everything has changed and I don’t know too much…it won’t be too easy and it’s going to be a very different situation, but I hope that we will have no injury and every player will have a high-level mentality and play,” Nishida reflected after their Day 2 win.
For his part, Alas Men’s coach Angiolino Frigioni knows there’s a long way to go for his program. Still, it’s a great experience for the team, given the Japanese level of volleyball.
Among others, Osaka fired more powerful serves against the Nationals, which is something they’re not used to yet. Moving forward, it’s something they’ll have to adjust to, alongside many more facets of the game.
“We are not used to this speed from the opponents’ serve. Okay, we have to practice, and we will not become easy in a few days. We need months of experience [for our] players. And honestly, I think that the level of play on the other side, and the power is much more than we are,” said Frigoni.
“We have to play with what we have and what we have is this. Sometimes we play good, and sometimes we play really bad…only some points, not the match. And that’s typical for the younger players.”
It’s a long way for Philippine volleyball, but rest assured that everything is being done to ensure stability and quality for the national team programs.
And as our aces continue to improve, they’ve already gotten a major complement from some of the world’s volleyball elites. Who knows? Maybe Nishida and Yamamoto will end up being right about Alas Pilipinas men’s in the long run.
Banner images courtesy of Volleyball World on X.