Despite facing one of Asia's top volleyball teams, Alas Pilipinas made a remarkable debut at the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men on Monday in Isa Town, Bahrain.
In a hard-fought match, the Philippines fell to 31st-ranked China in straight sets, 19-25, 22-25, 22-25, but showcased their potential and resilience throughout the game.
Under the guidance of head coach Sergio Veloso, the Filipino squad put up a valiant fight against the No. 5 team in Asia.
Veloso, a seasoned Brazilian tactician, expressed immense pride in his players' performance and commended their determination against such a formidable opponent.
“It’s a good match. I’m so happy with the team because we played so strong against China. We had three young players on the court, and the guys played very well,” said Veloso.
Leo Ordiales, a standout from National University, emerged as a key player for the Philippines, scoring 10 points.
Fellow Bulldog Rwenzmel Taguibolos, who was preferred over Cignal stars JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat, added two points.
Additionally, two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez from University of Sto. Tomas impressed as a libero.
The team’s co-captains, Jau Umandal and Marck Espejo, also made significant contributions.
Despite committing 26 errors, the Philippines displayed a solid performance in the one-hour, 19-minute match, holding their ground against the higher-ranked Chinese team.
Veloso emphasized the importance of learning from this experience, highlighting the close scores in each set.
“The score is not the same when you look at 3-0, but the fight is good, and this is important because I told my players that sometimes we win, but every time you need to learn. When you look at the score, it’s three sets but so close. I’m happy with the match today,” he stated.
With this loss, Alas Pilipinas now faces a crucial match against the home team, Bahrain, on Wednesday at midnight (Manila time).
A win is essential for the Philippines to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I know the fans here, the gym will be so full, and I expect to have a very, very good match. It’s our only possibility now; we need to win the match to go to the next round,” Veloso added.
Alas Pilipinas aims to build on their strong debut and continue their journey in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup with determination and the lessons learned from their encounter with China.
