While on different pools, Alas Pilipinas and South Korea share the status of being relatively inexperienced Asian teams taking on the higher-ranked squads in the FIVB Men's World Championship.
South Korea returned to the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship for the first time in 11 years on Sunday, debuting in the 2025 edition against Olympic champion France at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite being on the wrong end of a lopsided sweep, South Korea head coach Issanaye Ramires had a lot of good things to say about his team.
“First of all, I’d like to mention, they delivered their very best on the court today. We are playing not just any team, and they served very well today, we struggled a lot in reception," he told One Sports after the match.
"But the positive point that our players keep their mind positive, even when we are in bad situation and we try our best,” coach Ramires added.
[RELATED: Olympic champion France makes quick work of South Korea in FIVB Worlds opener]
Like South Korea, hosts Alas Pilipinas are among those considered inexperienced in the tournament, especially as this is the first time that the Philippines is seeing action in the global joust.
While the Koreans are more decorated, Ramires believes there is a lot of overlap between what his team and Alas Pilipinas need in order to be more competitive against the world's top-ranked teams.
Owing to their naturally smaller build, Ramires put a premium on being prepared physically.
“The two main points here in this level, it’s about the physical level. I think, I’ve been working at the Asian level for a long time, so I think we need to improve our physical level,” he said.
“Because to play in this level, we need to serve very strong," Ramires continued.
"If we don’t have strong serves, if we don’t know how to spike balls, it’s gonna be a big problem to compete, point by point with those kinds of teams… I think the future can improve in the Asian level, I can advise it to the Philippines also, it’s the physical level, the serves, and how to spike the balls out of system.”
Heo Subong bannered South Korea as they made their return to the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
A necessary experience
While no head coach would say they are happy after a loss, Ramires thought about how Korea’s tough opener against France would make a bigger splash in the program’s future.
Much like Alas’ own three-set defeat at the hands of Tunisia, there is much to be gained in the long run by competing against better teams.
“It’s very important [to have these matches] because, especially, in Korea, they aren’t used to play abroad. So they are, on their volleyball field, we’re opening their mind to understand more of the things, understand more to play at an international level because it’s quite different from their league,” said Ramires.
“So, we’re here to learn that, and also, improve our level and fight for better results in the next matches.”
With Korea and the Philippines making up two of six Asian teams in the World Championship, both teams will be eager to rake in precious experience that will help push their level of volleyball to the next step.
South Korea tangles with Argentina next on Tuesday, September 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while Alas Pilipinas will face off against Egypt on the same day at the Mall of Asia Arena.
—
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.