MANILA – Alas Pilipinas came agonizingly close to pulling off the biggest upset of their campaign, but a heartbreaking five-set loss to Iran dashed their hopes of advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship. Still, head coach Angiolino Frigoni said the team had already proven that Philippine men’s volleyball belongs on the world stage.
The Filipinos fought valiantly before bowing to the Asian powerhouse, 21-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 20-22, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, closing their group-stage run with a 1-2 record.
“I am very proud. We improved a lot; we showed that we can play good volleyball. Thank you to all the fans who came here because they supported us very much,” said the 71-year-old Italian mentor.
Frigoni admitted the stinging nature of the loss but emphasized that the team’s progress was undeniable.
“I’m picky in a way because we lost while we were in a dream. And then they woke up just one point before the dream was finished. But that’s life; that’s the life of the sport. Still, I believe that we played with skills, with power, with heart, with the mind at every point—but not with how they finished,” he said.
“I would have preferred losing this match 15-10 or 15-8. But to lose this way… it’s very, very painful. I’m still very proud of them,” he added.
Even Iran head coach Roberto Piazza acknowledged the transformation Frigoni has brought to the team, who showed they could stand toe-to-toe with some of the world’s best.
“You know, we are friends,” said Frigoni. “All coaches believe that player improvement depends on the coach. I am one of them, but we just have to give them a way to do things. After that, it all depends on them.
“There’s no one player who doesn’t want to get better. They won’t improve if they don’t want to,” he added.
Despite the painful exit, Alas Pilipinas left the tournament with heads held high, winning over fans with their grit, fire, and determination—laying the groundwork for a brighter future for Philippine volleyball./PN
