Marck Espejo saved his best performance for last to lead Alas Pilipinas Men to a bronze medal finish, capping a pressure-filled SEA Games 2025 run with a place on the podium.
The SEA Games 2025 medal may not have been gold—but it carried just as much meaning for Marck Espejo and the rest of Alas Pilipinas Men.
Following Alas Men’s dramatic comeback win over Vietnam to claim the bronze medal in the SEA Games 2025, Espejo summed up the moment in a heartfelt social media post.
“It may not be the color we dreamed of, but this podium finish is something I’ll always be proud of. Maraming salamat, Pilipinas,” he wrote.
It was, in many ways, a bronze worth the weight of gold.
[ALSO READ: Bryan Bagunas proud as Alas Men turn SEA Games gold disappointment into bronze finish]
Alas Men entered the SEA Games 2025 carrying heightened expectations after a historic campaign in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, where the national team showed they could compete with higher-ranked teams on the global stage.
That run fueled belief—and pressure—that the Philippines could mount a legitimate gold medal challenge in Bangkok.
Instead, the path to the podium gave the national team a reality check and demanded resilience.
[ALSO READ: Bryan Bagunas admits pressure weighed on Alas Men as SEA Games gold bid ends vs Thailand]
Just 24 hours after absorbing a stinging straight-sets semifinal loss to host Thailand, the Filipinos showed heart, springing back against Vietnam to pull off a thrilling reverse sweep, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 16-14, on Friday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark.
Leading the charge was Espejo, who delivered one of his finest performances in a national team uniform. The veteran hitter erupted for 30 points, unloading 25 attack points, three kill blocks, and two service aces to will the Philippines back from the brink of defeat.
Down 0–2 and facing the prospect of leaving the SEA Games empty-handed, Alas Men steadied themselves in the third set before finding their rhythm.
By the time the match reached a tense fifth set, Alas had belief of a comeback win, closing the contest to secure the program’s first SEA Games medal since 2019.
That’s why for Espejo and the rest of Alas Men, the bronze medal was more than just a consolation prize.
Not the color they dreamed of—but a finish they will always stand behind.
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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.