From their early days in college to the professional ranks and the national team, Bryan Bagunas and Alyssa Valdez have long shared a unified vision: to elevate Philippine volleyball, both in the men’s and women’s divisions, spanning indoor and beach volleyball.
For years, Valdez has been a driving force not only in sustaining the momentum of women’s volleyball but also in fueling the rapid rise of men’s volleyball in the country. The Ateneo volleyball legend was appointed president of Spikers’ Turf — the nation’s pioneering men’s volleyball league where Bagunas plays for Cignal — since the league’s professionalization in November 2020.
Fast forward five years, and the two stars are once again joining forces as official ambassadors for Philippine volleyball as the country prepares to host the prestigious 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship this September.
Bagunas and Eya Laure were first named ambassadors in March. On Monday afternoon, June 9, Alyssa Valdez was officially introduced as the latest ambassador by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation during a press conference at Novotel Manila.
Bagunas emphasized the significance of Valdez’s role in promoting the sport. “For me, kapag volleyball kasi, syempre iniisip agad natin si Ly. Talagang malaking bagay yung na i-ambag niya sa Philippine volleyball. Masasabi ko na isa siya sa nagangat or nagpasikat ng volleyball dito sa Pilipinas. We are so proud and happy na nandito sila with us kasi kailangan talaga siya to become one of the ambassadors,” shared Bagunas, who is currently sidelined with a left knee injury sustained last August during the SEA V.League.
Valdez sees the upcoming FIVB MWCH and the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals — kicking off Tuesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum — as clear indicators of men’s volleyball’s positive growth in the Philippines.
“The Invitational is a testament that we’re a really big volleyball community here in the Philippines. It’s just so nice to cap it off also with a World Championship. Based on the last finals in the UAAP, from the Spiker Turf finals din, nakakaproud talaga,” Valdez said.
She added, “It’s just so nice na ganon yung track na tinatahak din ng men’s volleyball. It’s really slowly, gradually, but surely improving for men’s volleyball and the volleyball community. Not just the indoor, but especially also with beach volleyball.”
The national men’s volleyball team, Alas Men, will showcase their readiness in a pocket tournament from June 10 to 12, facing formidable opponents such as reigning Korean V-League champions Hyundai Capital Skywalkers, defending Indonesian Proliga titlists Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi Volleyball Club, and the Thailand men’s national team.
