Alas Pilipinas’ story in its first-ever World Championship ended on Thursday night but not without a lot of fight and heart.
World No. 16 Iran fought off the Philippines - and an electrified SM Mall of Asia Arena crowd - in cardiac fashion, thanks to the most clutch challenge, scoring a 21-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 22-20 win to enter the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship as the last Asian nation standing.
“I am very proud. I am very proud because we improved a lot. We showed that we can play good volleyball. Thank you to all the fans that came here because they supported us very much. It’s a pity in a way that we lost because we were in a dream. And they woke up just one point before the dream was finished,” said Alas head coach Angiolino Frigoni.
“But I think that we played with skills, with power, with heart, with mind. I am happy for it. Just how they finished. I would prefer to finish this match (than) losing a match 15-10 or 15-8 or 15-7. This way is very, very painful. By the way, I am very proud of them. Very proud of them.”
After fighting back from 6-10 down in the fifth and final frame, Alas Pilipinas claimed six match points with the last at 19-18. Then Kim Malabunga ended the marathon match with a solid kill block on Ali Haghparast.
Or so all the 14,240 fans in attendance thought. Except for Iranian head coach Roberto Piazza.
Piazza called for a net fault challenge as the Philippine team erupted in cheers and the Iranians dropped to their knees. The video showed that Malabunga’s right hand grazed the net on his way down that set the scoreline at 19-all.
Yousef Kazemi, in the ensuing play, handed Iran its first match point after he blocked Malabunga but Bryan Bagunas responded with a backrow hit to level it again at 20.
Haghparast answered again for Iran with an off-the-block hit before Kazemi delivered anew as he rejected Marck Espejo, completing Iran’s come-from-behind win in two hours and 27 minutes.
Alas Pilipinas, despite the heartbreaking defeat, had nothing to be ashamed of as it stunned Egypt two days ago for a historic win before pushing Iran to five sets. And to think the Southeast Asian country only qualified because of being the host.
Bagunas, after being held to just four points in the first two sets, found his game and finished with 22 points on 18 spikes, three blocks, and an ace.
Twenty-two-year-old Leo Ordiales also shone with 21 points while Espejo had 15 points on 12 spikes and three blocks.
Malabunga made 10 points while Owa Retamar tallied a 48.28 percent setting efficiency while scoring five points, including a timely 1-2 play that gave Alas its first match point at 14-13.
The Iranians secured the second seed in Pool A despite having a similar 2-1 record with Tunisia due to inferior match points.
Iran will face the top-ranked nation from Pool H, which is still set to be decided between Serbia and Czechia.
Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh and Ali Hajipour pumped in 22 points each for the West Asians.
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