Alas Pilipinas staged a remarkable comeback on Friday, December 19, defeating Vietnam 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 16-14 to claim the bronze medal in the men’s indoor volleyball tournament at Indoor Stadium Huamark. Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas delivered crucial points in the fifth set, while Lloyd Josafat sealed the win with a game-winning ace, ending the Philippines’ six-year podium drought.

Espejo powered the Philippines with 30 points off 25 kills, three kill blocks, and two aces. Leo Ordiales added 20 points, Bagunas contributed six of his 19 points in the decisive frame, and Josafat and Peng Taguibolos posted 11 and seven points respectively, helping Alas return to the podium after consecutive fifth-place finishes following their historic 2019 silver medal.

Rallying from a two-set deficit

After dropping the first two sets, Alas fought back with intensity, taking the third and fourth sets to force a deciding fifth. The team raced to a 9-5 lead in the final set, but Vietnam narrowed it to 11-12, keeping the tension high.

Espejo scored an off-speed attack followed by a Bagunas kill to reach match point at 14-11. Vietnam forced a deuce at 14-14, but Bagunas delivered a powerful kill, and Josafat’s flat serve could not be handled by Ngoc Nguyen Thuan and Tran Ann Tu, sending the Filipino crowd into celebration.

Vietnam’s strong showing falls short

Pham Quoc Du led Vietnam with 27 points, but the team could not hold off the comeback. Truong The Khai added 15 markers, while Thuan and Tran Duy Tuen posted 14 and 13 points respectively, completing Vietnam’s efforts to fight for a medal.

Despite Vietnam’s rally, Alas Pilipinas maintained composure, executing key plays when it mattered most to secure the bronze. The team’s resilience marked a satisfying turnaround after a straight-sets semifinal loss to Thailand on Thursday.