In a few days’ time, Alas Pilipinas will be playing their first-ever FIVB Men’s World Championship match.
Regardless of the results, Alas Pilipinas Men know that they have done everything for their historic FIVB Men’s World Championship debut.
This was the assessment given by head coach Angiolino Frigoni as he and Alas Men count down the days before their World Championship opener against Tunisia this Friday, September 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“We are still waiting, we did everything possible. I’m happy with how they practice, I’m happy with how they played in the last friendly matches. We improved a lot in one year,” Frigoni said on Monday, September 8, during the Philippine Experience media day held at the National Museum for Natural Arts in Manila.
“I don’t know if it will be enough to beat Tunisia in the first match, but until now, I’m pretty happy with what we did.”
Alas Pilipinas started their 2025 national team season with the AVC Champions’ League in May, which was followed by a four-team pocket tournament, and the AVC Nations’ Cup throughout June as part of their World Championship buildup.
The Nationals also embarked on a training camp across Morocco, Romania, and Portugal throughout August, where they faced taller and stronger opponents, before continuing their final preparations back home in Manila.
“[The Europe training camp] was very interesting. We were in Morocco first, then after in Romania, and after in Portugal,” Frigoni recalled. “It was kind of a school for us because we played against teams with tall players, with a good serve and with a good strategy in defense, especially Romania and Portugal.”
“They showed us what we should improve more to play in their level and that must be our standard,” the Italian mentor continued. “I saw improvements, especially in defense and the organization of blocks. We also serve better, we don’t make a lot of mistakes in service anymore.”
Alas Men also managed to beat Romania in a tune-up game last September 7, and while it is a huge confidence boost, the real test that they have to ace will be the opener at the SM Mall of Asia this September 12, according to Frigoni.
Frigoni explained that nothing compares to the actual situation, which will involve a packed crowd, and an opposing squad trying to assert their brand of volleyball on game day.
“We will see there 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 that we will react good anyways,” Frigoni said.
Frigoni, though, isn’t putting any pressure on his wards to pull off any upsets, given that facing these world-class opponents is already a win in itself. If anything, the pressure is on Alas’ Pool A foes as they all try to exceed their past results in the World Championships.
“We don’t have anything to lose to be in this experience. The teams that have something to lose are our opponents. They must be very relaxed to play and be confident,” said Frigoni, with Alas being bunched with Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran in Pool A of the global tilt.
The Italian mentor also called on the Filipino volleyball fanbase to rally behind Alas in their curtain-raiser against Tunisia.
“In my experience, when we played against Japan, Filipinos were cheering for Japan and not for the Philippines. So what I’m telling to 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 against Tunisia.”
Banner images from the Asian Volleyball Confederation.