FIVB | Piazza praises Alas after narrow Iran escape: 'They deserve to be in first 16 teams'

Iran may be through to the Round of 16, but head coach Roberto Piazza admitted his team’s performance left plenty to be desired.

The Italian tactician credited Alas Pilipinas for nearly pulling off a historic upset at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.

“I’m happy because we are the 16th team that [will] play for the World Championship. I’m not happy about how we played the game,” Piazza said after Iran’s five-set escape, 21-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 22-20, on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Philippines played an amazing game. They deserve to be in the first 16 teams like us because two points cannot change the game.”

Respect for the hosts

While Iran survived the thriller, Piazza admitted his squad showed hesitation while Alas Pilipinas, coached by his friend Angiolino Frigoni, rose to the occasion in front of their home crowd.

“Today we were afraid to play sometimes, and the Philippines were perfect in the court,” said Piazza. “I need to congratulate my colleague, Angiolino. He did an amazing job. This guy improved a lot.”

“I’m happy because I’m in front. But at the same time, I’m not happy because Angiolino lost,” he added.

[ALSO READ: Iran’s Roberto Piazza ‘sorry’ to Alas Pilipinas ahead of do-or-die clash in FIVB Worlds]

When asked about the future of Philippine men’s volleyball, Piazz pointed it back to learning under Frigoni, who has steered the national team program to greater heights over the past 16 months.

“If you are able to learn from Angiolino, all the movements, I think that you can improve a lot,” he said.

Looking ahead

Iran escaped Alas Pilipinas to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports

With the Round of 16 spot secured, Piazza emphasized that Iran must now shift its focus to fixing inconsistencies and regaining confidence.

Iran will face Serbia in the knockout phase of the tournament on Tuesday, September 23.

But in the meantime, the Iranians will celebrate their hard-fought victory against the Filipinos.

“I will think about Serbia in two days. Now I have to think about what happened today, and we need to celebrate a little bit,” said Piazza.

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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.