Alas Pilipinas look to build on their strong start in the three-day Invitationals tournament as they face Korean V-League champions Hyundai Capital Skywalkers.
Fresh off a strong debut, Alas Pilipinas seek to keep the momentum rolling as they face South Korea’s Hyundai Capital Skywalkers in the continuation of the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals on Wednesday, June 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The national team opened the three-day friendly tournament with a confidence-boosting four-set triumph over Indonesia’s Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22, to mark its first appearance on one of the two official sites of the upcoming 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Two-time NCAA MVP Louie Ramirez shone brightest for the Filipinos, pouring in a game-high 25 points built on 21 attacks, 3 blocks, and an ace. Fil-Am opposite hitter Steven Rotter also chipped in 14 points in a balanced offensive effort.
[ALSO READ: Louie Ramirez proud of growth under Alas coach Angiolino Frigoni after 25-point outing vs Jakarta]
On the other side, Hyundai aims to bounce back after absorbing a four-set loss to the Thailand national team in its Invitationals opener, 22-25, 26-24, 19-25, 21-25.
Despite the defeat, the Skywalkers, the reigning South Korea V-League champions, are expected to pose a tough challenge with their youthful lineup gaining valuable exposure under Italian coach Fabio Storti.
Alas head coach Angiolino Frigoni is expected to continue rotating his pool of rising stars and veterans, with UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas, Marck Espejo, Joshua Retamar, and Eco Adajar all seeing action in the opening match.
[ALSO READ: UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas ‘floating in the air’ after clutch outing for Alas Pilipinas]
First serve is at 7:30 p.m., following the curtain-raiser between the Thailand Men’s National Volleyball Team and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi at 4:00 p.m.
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]