MANILA, Philippines – Because the clear underdogs of the FIVB Volleyball Males’s World Championship, Alas Pilipinas embraces the stress of internet hosting whereas debuting within the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Males’s World Championship.
The Philippines obtained bunched with African and Asian powerhouses in Pool A in the course of the star-studded draw ceremony on Saturday, September 14, at Solaire Resort in Parañaque Metropolis.
Nonetheless, the Filipinos consider they’ve one thing to indicate in group motion towards world No. 15 Iran, the Asian Championship runner-up; world No. 20 Egypt, the defending African champion; and world No. 24 Tunisia, winner of 11 continental titles.
The Philippines, the primary Southeast Asian nation to host the World Championship, would be the lowest ranked group within the match at No. 64 when the video games unfold from September 12-28, 2025 in Manila.
“There isn’t any stress for us since everyone knows there are not any [high] expectations…they [might even] anticipate us to lose, however every thing we’ll be coaching for, we’ll present them within the video games,” Alas Males exterior hitter Buds Buddin stated in Filipino.
“Ipapakita [namin] sa kanila na could ibubuga ang Pilipinas males’s volleyball group, and siguro maglaro nang maglaro para makalaban, hindi lang para sa World Championship, pati na sa SEA Video games,” he added.
(We need to show to them that the Philippines has one thing to indicate, and we need to maintain preventing not solely within the World Championship, but in addition within the Southeast Asian Video games.)
Draw outcomes
The draw outcomes, described as “even” by FIVB ambassador and Dutch volleyball star Nimir Abdel-Aziz, noticed world No. 1 Poland getting bunched in Pool B with No. 13 Netherlands, No. 21 Qatar, and No. 26 Romania.
Two-time defending Olympic champion France headlines Pool C that features No. 9 Argentina, No. 23 Finland, and No. 28 Korea.
Pool D options No. 3 United States, No. 12 Cuba, No. 22 Portugal, and No. 45 Colombia.
World No. 4 Slovenia performs No. 8 Germany, No. 19 Bulgaria, and No. 27 Chile in Pool E.
In Pool F motion, world champion Italy dukes it out with No. 14 Ukraine, No. 16 Belgium, and No. 50 Algeria.
World No. 6 Japan faces off towards No. 11 Canada, No. 17 Turkiye, and No. 44 Libya in Pool G.
Pool H rounds out the eight teams with No. 7 Brazil, No. 10 Serbia, No. 18 Czechia, and No. 25 China.
‘Huge problem’
Regardless of the heavy competitors, Alas head coach Angiolino Frigoni thinks the Philippines obtained comparatively lucky within the draw, avoiding powerhouse groups from Europe and the Americas.
“I can say that for us, all groups are fairly troublesome, however [our pool assignments], they aren’t as troublesome as Italy, as Poland, and every thing,” Frigoni, who beforehand coached Egypt, informed reporters.
Nonetheless, Frigoni is aware of the World Championship will probably be a “large duty” and a “large problem” for Alas Males, admitting they’re a good distance from being an Asian contender.
“Even when the World Championship [is still] distant… the World Championship is just not the tip of volleyball [for the Philippines], it’s simply the beginning of volleyball. And to construct a group, and to construct a superb degree group, you want years, not months,” stated Frigoni.
“And that is a part of this system that the federation is meant to do. So begin with this era to construct a group and proceed after the World Championship. My expectation is to do our greatest, to compete towards all people, and to battle towards all people and don’t quit towards anyone.”
Alas Males, in line with Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and Philippine Nationwide Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, will play on the Mall of Asia Area.
The nationwide group may even headline the opening-day match on September 12, 2025, which can kick off with a live performance, per Suzara.
The Saturday draw, which had OPM icon Gary Valenciano headlining the performers, was led by FIVB ambassadors Nimir Abdel-Aziz of the Netherlands, Nootsara Tomkom of Thailand, and Tine Urnaut of Slovenia.
Subsequent yr’s video games will probably be held on the Good Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Area.
The highest two groups from all eight swimming pools will advance to the knockout spherical of 16, earlier than heading to the quarterfinal, semifinal, and remaining matches. – Rappler.com
