Amid the celebrations following their victorious sweep at the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals, head coach Angiolino Frigoni emphasized the need for a grounded outlook as the team shifts its focus to the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2025, set to take place in the Philippines from September 12 to 28.

“I don’t know if we have enough time,” said Frigoni, referencing the tight three-month window to prepare. “We will do our best to be good there.”

Progress acknowledged, but challenges ahead

Frigoni commended the team’s fight and growth throughout the Invitationals, where Alas Pilipinas, led by Marck Espejo, capped off the tournament with a thrilling five-set win against Thailand on Independence Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The national squad also delivered convincing four-set victories against South Korea’s Hyundai Capital Skywalkers and Indonesia’s Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi.

“We had bad moments,” Frigoni noted, “but we didn’t give up. That is what I like.”

Frigoni highlighted the solid contributions of Owa Retamar, Steven Rotter, Louie Ramirez, Peng Taguibolos, and Kim Malabunga, crediting them for steady plays, strong net defense, and offensive support.

However, as the team prepares to take on world No. 16 Iran, No. 22 Egypt, and No. 39 Tunisia in pool play, Frigoni warned of a stark gap in experience and rankings. The Philippines currently stands at No. 59 globally.

“You know which ranking you are in the world, right?” he said. “They are in another level of ranking and in another level of volleyball. But I think that we can be close to them.”

He pointed to the recent progress against Thailand—once a distant rival—as a reason to believe in the team’s trajectory. “Today we win, tomorrow we can lose, but we are close to them. That, for me, is very important.”

Nations Cup and European training next

With little time to rest, Alas Pilipinas will next compete in the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup beginning Tuesday in Bahrain. The Philippines is set to face Thailand once more, along with Kazakhstan and New Zealand in group play. Defending champion Qatar, also a World Championship participant, will also see action in the tournament.

Following the AVC campaign, the national team will embark on critical training stints with World Championship-bound squads from Romania, Portugal, and Chile as part of their preparation.

While fans may savor the Invitational sweep, Frigoni’s message is clear: the real battle is only beginning.