Alas Pilipinas setter Joshua Retamar turned into a fan for a moment, sharing photos with star playmakers Micah Christenson of Team USA and Moni Nikolov of Bulgaria at the FIVB Men's World Championship.
Joshua Retamar is surely living every Filipino volleyball player’s dream.
The Alas Pilipinas setter shared a photo with two star playmakers, Micah Christenson of Team USA and Moni Nikolov of Bulgaria, during the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Manila.
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“Thank you Micah Christenson & Team USA for inspiring Pinoys to love men’s volleyball even more,” Retamar wrote in an Instagram post.
He later posted another photo with Nikolov with a caption: “Moni and Mini.”
Retamar and Alas Pilipinas nearly made the Round of 16, but absorbed a five-set heartbreak against Iran in their last Pool A match.
[ALSO READ: Alas Pilipinas and the game that was: Araneta fans weigh in on dramatic PH loss in FIVB MWCH]
Despite the early exit, the former NU Bulldog proved his mettle against the world’s best, finishing as the fourth-best setter with a 42.69% success rate.
[ALSO READ: Bagunas, Retamar, Ybanez, Espejo of Alas among top individual performers in FIVB MWCH pool]
Meanwhile, Team USA and Bulgaria battled in a classic quarterfinal that went the distance, with Bulgaria rallying to complete a stunning reverse sweep to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2006.
In the five-set thriller, Micah Christenson had 56 excellent sets for the Americans, while Moni Nikolov finished with 48. But it was the Bulgarian playmaker who had the last word, sending the former and the crowd-favorite squad packing.
[ALSO READ: Moni Nikolov learns from Micah Christenson, earns praise after FIVB Worlds duel]
Bulgaria will face Czechia on Saturday, September 27, at 2:30 p.m. for a spot in the championship match.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.