Angiolino Frigoni basked in the glory of Alas Pilipinas’ first-ever World Championship victory over Egypt, but stressed that the team must build consistency before chasing bigger dreams on the international volleyball circuit.
Angiolino Frigoni just could not contain his emotions.
The veteran Italian coach fell to the floor in pure joy after Alas Pilipinas’ historic victory over Egypt in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship—marking the Philippines’ first-ever match win on the world stage.
At 71 years old and with decades of experience in international volleyball, Frigoni has seen it all. But for him, this triumph carried a meaning beyond numbers.
“I laid on the ground because I was very happy. This was not just for me and for the Filipinos, but this team was with me for 16 months, and I saw how they improved,” Frigoni said.
“I was waiting for them to win one match to show everybody how we improved in these 16 months. That happened today.”
Beating his former team
The win was validation for a long national team process.
Since taking over the program in 2023, Frigoni has guided a young Alas Pilipinas squad through growing pains, training camps, and international tune-ups.
Angiolino Frigoni calls for a challenge during Alas Pilipinas' FIVB Worlds victory over Egypt. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Beating Egypt—the reigning African champions—was a symbolic breakthrough for a team many considered outsiders in these FIVB world championships.
The result also carried a personal twist, as Frigoni once coached Egypt nearly a decade ago. But on this fateful Tuesday night, sentiment had no place.
“I was [their coach] 10 years ago. Now, I am the coach of the Philippines. I don’t feel sorry for them. I wanted to beat them, and we did. Sorry,” he said with a grin.
Putting the win in perspective
Still, Frigoni was quick to temper expectations for what's to come, reminding everyone that while the victory was historic, it did not suddenly make the Philippines a global powerhouse.
“Slowly, please. We just won today, I don’t know where we’ll be in two days, even with how stable we were today,” he cautioned.
“We are the same team as before that sometimes plays very good, sometimes not very good. We have to get stable on this level to try to compete. Once we are stable in this level, we can discuss.”
[ALSO READ: Frigoni points to set 3 vs Tunisia as a glimpse of Alas Pilipinas' potential after tough FIVB World debut]
Looking ahead
With the victory, Alas Men kept themselves in the hunt for a Round of 16 berth, needing another upset against world no. 13 Iran on Thursday, September 18, to advance.
Frigoni, however, stayed grounded, preferring to savor the moment rather than leap ahead.
“We are very happy that we win today, but we know what we have to improve. We know exactly what we have to improve,” the Italian tactician emphasized.
—
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.