Alas Pilipinas Men look to bounce back against red-hot Egypt as they continue their hunt for a breakthrough win in the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship.
Alas Pilipinas will have another chance to score a historic breakthrough victory when they face African powerhouse Egypt in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship on Tuesday, September 16, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Filipinos, who slipped to 0-1 after a straight-sets loss to Tunisia, aim to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
Despite the setback, Alas showed resilience in the third frame, with captain Bryan Bagunas carrying the fight with a 23-point performance built on 20 attacks, two aces, and a block.
Marck Espejo also chipped in nine points while contributing on defense with six receptions and four digs.
[ALSO READ: Tunisia setter Khalid Ben Slimane impressed by Bagunas, Espejo in FIVB Worlds opener]
Egypt, ranked no. 22 in the world, enters with momentum after pulling off an impressive 25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Asian powerhouse Iran, ranked no. 13.
Ahmed Shafik paced the Egyptians with 18 points, while Elhossiny Eissa added 17.
Head coach Marco Bonitta, however, expects a “very, very difficult” contest against the Filipinos, acknowledging their spirited stand in the late stages against Tunisia.
[ALSO READ: Frigoni points to set 3 vs Tunisia as a glimpse of Alas Pilipinas' potential after tough FIVB World debut]
With Egypt looking to move to 2-0 and Alas Pilipinas chasing history, the clash promises intensity, especially with the hometown crowd at MOA Arena expected to rally behind the national team.
First serve is set for 5:30 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.]