The Philippines suffered a crushing defeat in the 2024 Southeast Asian Men’s V.League on Saturday, falling to Indonesia in four sets, 23-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-21, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Adding to the heartbreak, Alas Pilipinas saw its star player, Bryan Bagunas, go down with a left leg injury late in the match, dealing a major blow to the team’s hopes.
After a promising start with a first-set win, the Filipinos struggled to maintain momentum, falling behind as Indonesia took control of the match. Bagunas, who led the team with 17 points—all from attacks—was stretchered off after landing awkwardly on a jump serve, leaving his teammates visibly shaken.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara expressed concern over Bagunas’ injury but called on the team to push forward despite the setback.
“I know they are worried because Bryan is one of our strongest players, but this is a team sport, and now everybody has to work even harder to finish this week strong,” Suzara said. “We hope Bryan’s injury is not severe. I hope he’s okay.”
Despite the tough loss, the Philippine team remains determined, with hopes of bouncing back in their next match against Thailand. The challenge ahead is steep, especially without their ace spiker, but the team is set to regroup and give their all in the remaining games.
Michaelo Buddin provided strong support for the Philippines with 16 points, while Kim Malabunga chipped in seven, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Indonesia's dominance. Fahri Septian Putrama led the Indonesian side with 21 points, while Halim Fahran and Hendra Kurniawan added 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Alas Pilipinas will now have to dig deep and find new ways to compete as they navigate the tournament without their main weapon.
Photo by Angelo Rosales/Tiebreaker Times
