Leo Ordiales made good on his promise to bounce back from a frustrating debut to help seal Alas Pilipinas' historic first FIVB Men's World Championship victory against Egypt.
After a quiet debut, Leo Ordiales made sure to respond the right way—by helping the Philippines make history.
The 22-year-old opposite spiker played a pivotal role in Alas Pilipinas’s thrilling four-set triumph over Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, marking the country’s first-ever victory in the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ordiales finished with 21 points, coming through in crucial stretches as the Filipinos turned the tide after splitting the first two sets.
“Masaya lang po kasi nakakatulong ako sa mga kuya ko sa loob ng court,” the NU Bulldog told One Sports. “Hindi lang nakabawi sa laro kundi nakuha pa ‘yung panalo.”
From struggles to redemption
Ordiales had a rough outing in their tournament opener against Tunisia, visibly frustrated and unable to find his rhythm in his FIVB Worlds debut. But instead of dwelling on it, he turned to his support system.
“Pagka-ganun nangyayari sakin, nakikipag-usap lang ako sa pamilya ko. Kumbaga humihingi ako ng advice sa coaches and teammates,” he shared.
[ALSO READ: Leo Ordiales vows to bounce back after tough Alas debut in FIVB Men's World Championship]
That bounce-back mentality paid off in full, as he backed up Bryan Bagunas’ masterful 25-point performance and contributed solid attacks and energy to keep Egypt at bay, especially in the fourth set.
Confidence boost for the future
Beyond just redemption, Ordiales said the win gave him something even more valuable—confidence for what lies ahead.
Leo Ordiales celebrates after scoring a point in Alas Pilipinas' four-set win vs Egypt. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
“Siguro para sakin, sobrang taas ng kumpiyansa na binigay nito kasi mas maraming opportunity in the future kung sakali makalaro abroad, kaya talagang mas ginagalingan ko," he added.
Ordiales’ rise comes at the perfect time, as Alas Pilipinas will gun for a potential spot in the Round of 16 with a massive matchup looming against world no. 13 Iran on Thursday, September 18.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.