The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship hosted by the Philippines was one for the books—made truly unforgettable not only by the epic matches and world-class presentations but also by the passionate Filipino fans.
Volleyball-loving supporters came in droves not just to watch the Alas Pilipinas matches but also to cheer on other nations, as the global showpiece showcased the best of the best on center stage.
To cap off what FIVB President Fabio Azevedo described as a “10 out of 10” hosting by the Philippines, the gold medal match between eventual back-to-back champions Italy and Bulgaria drew a record-setting men’s volleyball crowd of 16,429 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The match became the most-attended men’s volleyball game in the Philippines, surpassing the 14,517-strong crowd that witnessed National University face Far Eastern University in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals last May 17—also at the same Pasay venue.
“I'd like to give this tribute to our Filipino fans. Today, I think it’s 16,000. If not for the fans, our World Championship would not have been successful," said PNVF and AVC President Ramon "Tats" Suzara on Sunday after the awarding ceremony.
"Thank you so much to the Filipino fans, to all of you, to all the Filipino families here, and to everyone who watched—for the success of this."
The Filipino trademark—hospitality—was also commended by national teams that traveled to the Southeast Asian host country.
Suzara shared that the organizing committee from Poland, which will host the 2027 Men’s World Championship, took note of how the Philippines managed the event.
“The Poland organizers were here. They said it’s different—our hospitality … always smiling. People are very friendly. Here, Filipinos are always laughing—volunteers, media, everyone. It’s very helpful. So at least one of our strongest assets is our hospitality and hard work. We are efficient,” Suzara proudly said.
Still, despite the overwhelming praise, Suzara wants to further elevate the country’s performance. The amiable executive is already looking ahead to improvements for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2029 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
“They say it's the best ever—unforgettable. But we still need to improve in some areas. I'm sure we can do better,” said Suzara.
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