ALAS Pilipinas’s historic victory at the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Tuesday night was not just a dream come true—it was a milestone that will elevate Philippine volleyball on the global stage.
“It was a dream come true,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Tuesday, reflecting on the Philippines’ first-ever World Championship win over Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, before a roaring crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Egypt was no easy opponent. A nine-time African champion, six-time Olympian, and ranked as high as 13th in the 2010 World Championship and ninth in Rio 2016, the Pharaohs represented a formidable challenge for the first-time World Championship participants from the Philippines.
“These men have etched their names in volleyball history. Their victory will surely inspire the next generation to emulate them as role models,” Tolentino said, noting that Philippine sports have recently reached elite levels, highlighted by Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo’s gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Carlos Yulo’s double-gold performance in Paris last year.
“It’s all about setting goals and working tirelessly to achieve them,” said Tolentino, a member of the Local Organizing Committee for the country’s solo hosting of the World Championship.
“It was a long shot—we never expected Alas Pilipinas to go this far—but they overachieved,” he added. “I commend the Philippine National Volleyball Federation [PNVF] and the entire sports community for supporting this remarkable achievement.”
Tolentino emphasized, “Building champions requires the support of the entire community: the government, the Philippine Sports Commission, the private sector, and Filipino fans alike.”
He also highlighted the broader impact of the victory, noting that the Philippines has now claimed a new niche in global volleyball and sports.
“Two birds with one stone—we won at the World Championship, and at the same time, our sports tourism campaign received a major boost,” he said.
With 31 of the world’s top volleyball nations in town—each with entourages of nearly 50 people, not counting fans and family members—the championship has become a major platform for promoting Philippine sports tourism.
“Sports tourism thrives on events like this, and this is one solid platform to advance the campaign,” Tolentino added.
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