Alas Pilipinas grouped with Iran, Egypt, Tunisia in FIVB worlds

Members of the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team along with coach Angiolino Frigoni during the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship draw. –PNVF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A tough first round awaits Alas Pilipinas as the host takes on Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025 set for next year.

With the Philippines automatically seeded in Pool A as the host country,  Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia were grouped to play with Alas Pilipinas during the draw Saturday evening at Solaire Grand Ballroom.

Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena will host the world championships from September 12-28 next year.

READ: Fans give Philippines its biggest edge in FIVB men’s worlds hosting

Alas, which is now under Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, will face world No.15 and Asian championship runner-up Iran.

That completes Alas Pilipinas group with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia. #MWCH2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/rCrjyTtwXN

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 14, 2024

The Ranked No.64 Filipinos will also take on World No.20 and African champion Egypt and 11-time African titlist Tunisia, which is World No. 24.

“I can say that for us, all teams are pretty difficult, but those two, they are not difficult [Egypit and Tunisia] as Italy, as Poland, and everything. And by the way, I have only two words to say today: Big responsibility that we have in this championship, and big challenge for us,” said Frigoni.

The Alas players, led by Buds Buddin and Kim Malabunga, were present in the draw, which was ran by ambassadors former Thailand women’s volleyball setter Nootsara Tomkom, Dutch star Nimid Abdel-Aziz, and Tine Urnaut of Slovenia.

“Sobrang nakakaexcite yung magiging game kasi anglalakas nung mga kasama namin sa pool namin. Galingan namin sa parating na games next year, paghahandaan namin,” said Malabunga. “Laking bagay yun para sa men’s volleyball sa Pinas kasi makikita ng mga susunod na players sa amin para pagsikapan nila na sumunod maging national team.”

READ: Alas Pilipinas men ‘still very far’ from high level, admits new coach

Meanwhile, the seven top-ranked teams are scattered among the last seven groups with World No.1 Poland bannering Pool B with the Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania.

Olympic champion France headlines Pool C with Argentina, Finland, and South Korea.

Team USA faces Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia with Group D.

Slovenia is slated in Pool E with Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile, as defending world champion Italy opens its title bid in Pool F with Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria.

Fan favorite Japan is in Pool G with Canada, Turkiye, and Libya, while Brazil plays Serbia, Czechia, and China in Pool H.

Top two from each pool will advance to the knockout stage of the competition.

The Alas games will be held at MOA Arena including the opening day, as the BIg Dome will be the other venue in the pool stage. The knockout games until the championship will be staged in Pasay City. 

“It’s a very tough group also. Iran is also an Asian champion, they’re world-class. You also have Tunisia. I think we just need to work hard. Tunisia is also a good African team like Egypt. Egypt, our head coach Frigoni, used to coach Egypt. I think siguro alam mo na siguro laro ng Egypt, kung paano talunin ang Egypt, so baka puwede gawin ng Pilipino yun,” said PNVF president Tats Suzara. “But I think the main thing about this World Championship is to improve our world ranking. Of course, we’ll be in the Top 32 already in the world but I think it’s what the Philippines can give and the experience that we will get in this World Championship is historic.”

Also highlighting the event was the official turnover of the FIVB trophy to the Philippine Local Organizing Committee led by Co-Chairperson William Vincent Araneta Marcos and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

“For the first time ever, the World Championships will be held in the Philippines. They’re the first in Southeast Asia and for the first time ever, we will have the 32 best countries in your own soil,” FIVB general director Fabio Azevedo said. “Together, we will all have the best volleyball experience here—the passion and courage of all teams. We’re absolutely happy and grateful. I can assure you will all work hard to make this a great success and give all the fans in the globe the joy of our sport.”

OPM legend Gary “Mr. Pure Energy” Valenciano capped the show with an electrifying sing and dance performance much to the cheers of the crowd made up of local and foreign officials, coaches and players led by the Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s teams.

Alas women coach Jorge de Brito, gold medalist as a player for Brazil in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, also graced the historic event with his players.