Alas Pilipinas Men will march into the 33rd SEA Games with their World Championship core intact, adding only rookie opposite Al-Bukharie Sali for the gold medal hunt.
Alas Pilipinas Men will head into the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with an almost unchanged roster, keeping intact the battle-tested core that carried the country through its historic FIVB World Championship run.
Rookie opposite Al-Bukharie Sali, an incoming University of Santo Tomas recruit, is the lone addition to head coach Angiolino Frigoni’s 14-man squad—based on the delegation list sent by the Philippine Olympic Committee to the media.
Sali replaces veteran libero Jack Kalingking, making him the only change from the group that competed in the World Championships held in Manila last September.
[ALSO READ: UST Golden Spiker Al-Bukharie Sali set to join Alas Pilipinas training ahead of SEA Games]
Despite being just 18, Sali adds height, length, and fresh offensive firepower to a spiker rotation already led by proven scorers Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, Jade Disquitado, and Louie Ramirez.
He also has some familiarity with the squad, having played with Josh Ybanez for the UST-Gameville Golden Spikers in the Spikers' Turf.
The rest of the national team remains fully intact.
In the middle, stalwarts Kim Malabunga, Lloyd Josafat, and Peng Taguibolos resume their roles as the team’s defensive pillars.
Setters Owa Retamar and Eco Adajar will once again orchestrate the offense.
And on the back row, spiker-turned-libero Josh Ybanez teams up with Vince Lorenzo to complete the defensive unit.
Alas Pilipinas Men during the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
The Nationals now look to end a six-year SEA Games medal drought after last claiming silver in 2019.
Only four members of that podium squad remain—Bagunas, Espejo, Retamar, and Malabunga—forming the veteran backbone of an otherwise youthful core.
Bagunas is also the co-flagbearer for the opening ceremony on December 9.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: PNVF chief believes Alas teams have 'good chance' to get medals]
Alas Men open their campaign in Group B against Myanmar on December 13, followed by Cambodia on December 14, before taking on three-time defending champion Indonesia on December 16.
The top two teams advance to the semifinals on December 18.
The games will be livestreamed on One Sports YouTube and via Pilipinas Live. They will also be aired on One Sports and One Sports+.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE | Team Philippines competes at 33rd SEA Games in Thailand]
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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.