Veterans Kim Malabunga and Jack Kalingking vow to give it their all amid the tough challenge of facing the world’s best at the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship.
Kim Malabunga and Jack Kalingking are no strangers to representing the Philippines in the international volleyball scene.
But when the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship in Manila rolls around, the two will be put in a rather unfamiliar territory.
Already veterans in the national team, Malabunga and Kalingking will find themselves competing against the best of the best—something they admit will be quite a daunting challenge.
“Kahit ang tagal mo na naglalaro ng volleyball pero pag nakalaban mo 'yung mga high-level na mga volleyball [teams] talaga, parang babalik ka pa rin sa pagiging [bago],” Malabunga told One Sports at the sidelines of the MRT-3 Go Live! event on Wednesday. “Alam mo 'yung feeling na kakasimula mo pa lang mag-volleyball, kailangan mong magpakitang gilas para [umangat] 'yung game namin.”
“Siyempre, ito World Championship ito eh, iba na 'yung usapan na ito eh. Andun siguro 'yung pressure then 'yung mangangapa sa bawat kalaban. Siyempre, iba na 'yung mga kalaban. 'Yung Philippines, malayo pa 'yung ranking natin pero siyempre, all out din talaga,” Kalingking added.
[ALSO READ: Alas Pilipinas bring volleyball fever to MRT-3 ahead of FIVB World Championship]
Still, excitement rings for Malabunga and Kalingking in what will be a historic campaign for Alas Men in the FIVB Worlds.
“Siyempre, sobrang excited kaming lahat. Actually, lahat naman ng mga teammates ko excited talaga kasi like first time nga diba na makakapaglaro kami rito sa napakalaking tournament na ito. Sabi ko sa kanila, bigay lang namin 'yung best namin dun,” said Malabunga.
The two veterans have been part of the national team program for the past years, notably during the Philippines’ historic silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
And with another milestone expected to come in the global tilt, Kalingking knows how valuable the global tilt will be to further boost men's volleyball in the country.
“Ngayon, pinaka-importante 'yung dito ang host. Tayo ang host ngayon, siyempre, importante maipakita namin 'yung best namin para sa mga sumusuporta sa men's volleyball. All out lang sa mga bawat laro then pakita lang 'yung best,” Kalingking explained.
[ALSO READ: Jack Kalingking embraces Alas Pilipinas return in Invitationals after three-year absence]
But while the odds of making it to the next round aren’t in Alas Men’s favor in Pool A, Malabunga is still expecting the squad to give it their all against the likes of Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran.
“Actually, no expectations naman eh. Parang gusto lang namin na ipakita kung anong meron kami and then 'yung mga natutunan namin last few trainings namin,” said Malabunga. “Feeling ko naman mas na-improve 'yung mga skills namin and 'yung sa teamwork namin.”
Alas Pilipinas will open their FIVB World Championship campaign against world No. 42 Tunisia on September 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
[ALSO READ: Everything you need to know about Pool A of the FIVB Men's World Championship]
Tickets for the opening day, which will also feature K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR and Cebuana artist Karencita, are available via www.philippineswch2025.com