On that fateful Thursday night, volleyball fans in Araneta were watching a do-or-die match on the court between France and Argentina. Every minute or so, they would flick their eyes towards smaller screens, the FIVB MWCH match between Alas and Iran.
In another universe, Alas Pilipinas Men won that game.
In some distant timeline—perhaps just a second ahead of ours—the final whistle blew and the scoreboard favored the Philippines. The cheers echoed longer and history would have been written differently.
But in this one, on a night that could’ve joined the pages of legend, it took only a single net fault challenge for Iran to steal the win from the Philippines' grasp.
On Thursday night, as France and Argentina clashed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the crowd was loud. Yet, eyes drifted as they watched Alas Pilipinas Men not on the court, but on the smaller screens of their phones.
With that successful net fault challenge, Iran took the willpower from the Philippines in an extended fifth set to snatch the ticket to the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship Round of 16.
“It was painful because while we’re here [at the fanzone], waiting for the results, we already won. But there was a challenge of a net touch, and from there, the team lost their momentum, they lost the match. We’re still proud of Alas Pilipinas because this is the world stage. We already posted on social media, X, Instagram, the reactions were enormous. We already celebrated," one fan said to One Sports.
The excitement and heartbreak echoed from Mall of Asia to Araneta. Different venues, same ache. Disbelief. Silence. The kind that only sports—only something this close—can deliver.
“It was such a tough loss, ‘yung pinakamasakit is mayroong mga crucial calls na hindi natin nakuha. Pero still, we should be proud of our players because they did their best. It’s heartbreaking. We celebrated with the players as well [through the screen] because we saw how happy they were,” another fan said.
The net touch challenge may have rewritten the outcome.
But for a few seconds—one beautiful, infinite moment—the Philippines won. And in that celebration, however short-lived, Filipinos found what they were chasing: belief.
“Sobrang sakit habang nanonood ako kanina ng game [France vs. Argentina], nanonood din ako ng Alas, nakabili na po kasi ako ng ticket here [sa Araneta]. Sobrang sakit po talaga kasi nandoon na tayo ‘eh tapos napaasa tayo.”
“Pero okay lang po kasi lumaban tayo, wala namang nag-expect na makakasabay tayo sa ganoong playing field, the world.”
Another fan captured the spirit of the night and the sting of defeat.
“On an international stage, they can really be a team that’s worth cheering on. That’s a big achievement not just for the team but for the whole country.”
“Okay na ‘yun, malay mo next time manalo na sila. The whole arena celebrated kasi we thought na they won the match. When France was serving, we thought that they were cheering for Team France but it was all because of Alas. It was a really ground-breaking moment to witness a lot of people cheering for your team on home court.”
France and Argentina were locked in battle on the taraflex. But elsewhere, spiritually, thousands were with Alas.
“When Alas Pilipinas won, everyone was cheering here in Araneta while watching France and Argentina. Narinig namin from the people in the back kasi they were watching a live, sabi nila may challenge pa—and then doon na, nanghihinayang na lahat. That’s when I felt the atmosphere change, sad na lahat.”
“During those three minutes, everyone was cheering and we saw it in the players as well and it’s amazing kasi even though we were in Araneta, spiritually, we were watching Alas Pilipinas—we were there with our hearts, watching with fellow Filipinos.”
And even in heartbreak, pride found its way into the universe of voices.
“It was an honor to witness Alas Pilipinas go that far in the tournament, it’s not just sad but it also gives us pride. It’s such a proud moment—being a Filipino, na umabot sila dito.”
@onesportsphl ‘SOBRANG SAKIT PO TALAGA KASI NANDOON NA TAYO ‘EH, PARANG NAPAASA PO TAYO, GANUN’ 🤧 Volleyball fans who watched the game between France and Argentina at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Thursday shared their thoughts on Alas Pilipinas’ dramatic loss to Iran in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship at MOA Arena. | via Gillian Trinidad/One Sports #MWCH2025 #Philippines2025 #SportsonTiktok ? original sound - OneSportsPHL
In another universe, the Filipinos would still celebrating. And maybe, just maybe, in a few more years, it would also be reality in this one.