Setter Ave Joshua “Owa” Retamar flew straight from Europe into a Korea showdown, giving Alas Pilipinas Men just one practice before their toughest test yet. The Filipino squad opens its Asian Games campaign Sunday against South Korea at Park Arena Komaki.

The 1 p.m. clash is one of three matches kicking off a heavy eight-game schedule at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games. It marks a high-stakes start for a Philippine team looking to build early momentum in Pool D.

Retamar’s Late Arrival Fuels Squad

Retamar arrived Friday after his stint with Ordu Sports Club in Azerbaijan, leaving the versatile setter with barely 48 hours to reset before facing Korea. Despite the tight turnaround, the team looks energised heading into the matchup.

Team manager Ronwald Dimaculangan, who also coaches University of the East in the UAAP, struck an optimistic tone ahead of the opener. “Okey naman sila sa ngayon, we are hoping maging maganda ang resulta ng laro nami bulas kahit ngayon lang maging complete,” he said.

Though Retamar has had only a day of practice with his teammates, chemistry is not expected to be an issue. He played alongside much of the current roster during the 2025 FIVB World Championships hosted in Manila last year.

That shared history should help smooth over the lack of preparation time before Sunday’s high-profile assignment. Veterans Bryan Bagunas, Marck Jesus Espejo, Josh Ybañez and Lloyd Josafat are all expected to play key roles for the squad.

Alas Men Locked on Own Game Plan

South Korea remains known for its offensive firepower, a threat that has troubled Philippine squads in past international meets. Still, Dimaculangan insisted the team’s game plan will centre on its own execution rather than reacting to the opponent.

“That will be our focus, our own games rather than our opponents,” Dimaculangan said, underscoring an approach built on discipline over improvisation. The comment reflects a broader strategy the coaching staff hopes will steady the team under pressure.

Sunday’s slate extends well beyond the Alas Men’s opener, with several marquee matchups unfolding across venues in Aichi and Nagoya. Four-peat-seeking Iran begins its own campaign against Kyrgyzstan at 1 p.m., mirroring the timing of the Philippines-Korea clash.

Later in the day, AVC Continental Cup champion Japan faces Uzbekistan in Pool A action starting at 7 p.m. at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park. The host nation enters as one of the tournament’s clear favourites after its continental title run.

China, which shares Pool D with both the Philippines and South Korea, opens against Chinese Taipei at 7 p.m. The result could carry added weight for Alas Men, who will eventually have to face China themselves in group play.

With four teams battling for position in a compact pool, Sunday’s results are likely to shape the psychological tone of the tournament early on. A strong showing against Korea would give the Philippines a crucial confidence boost heading into tougher matchups ahead.

For now, all eyes turn to Park Arena Komaki, where a freshly arrived Retamar and a battle-tested core hope experience outweighs preparation time. How Alas Men respond under that pressure could define the tone of their entire Asian Games campaign.