Looking to build on their historic FIVB World Championship appearance, Alas Pilipinas Men are on a two-week camp in Taiwan for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
Alas Pilipinas Men arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a two-week training camp in preparation for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
After making history in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship last September, Alas Men will be stationed in Kaohsiung for a camp that includes six friendly matches against powerhouse Taiwanese squads.
“We’re going to prepare well for the SEA Games and we really need to train together since we came from a long break, too,” said Marck Espejo who contributed strongly in the worlds where the Philippines finished in 19th place among 32 teams.
Also on the men’s team coached by Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, according to Philippine National Volleyball Federation, are Owa Retamar, Leo Ordiales, Josh Ybañez, Kim Malabunga, Peng Taguibolos, Louie Ramirez, Lloyd Josafat, Buds Buddin, Vince Lorenzo, Eco Adajar, and Jade Disquitado.
PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said that also on the team are two young guns from University of Santo Tomas—Al-Bukarie Sali and JJ Macam—and Lucca Mamone.
“I’m super happy and grateful for this opportunity. I used to just dream of being part of Alas, and now it finally happened,” said Sali, a 6-foot-5 opposite spiker.
“I’m really excited because I used to join their training before. The intensity is so high and it’s a big help for me.”
Meanwhile, team captain Bryan Bagunas remains in Japan, where he’s playing for the Osaka Bluteon in the ongoing SV.League.
The Philippines last reached the SEA Games podium in 2019, when the country hosted the 30th edition, where the men’s squad clinched silver after a final showdown with Indonesia.
Bagunas, Espejo, Malabunga and Retamar were key figures in that run.
Since then, Alas finished fifth in both the Hanoi and Phnom Penh Games as the country continues to chase a breakthrough gold, with the program’s best results so far being two silver medals—including a Finals appearance in 1977—and five bronze finishes.