MANILA – Bryan Bagunas ignited a fiery start for Alas Pilipinas, leading to a hard-fought 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23 victory over Vietnam in the Southeast Asian Volleyball League opener at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday (16 Aug 2024).

The Philippines will face Indonesia next, while Thailand will go up against Vietnam today, Saturday (17 Aug 2024) in the event organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

The win marked the Philippines’ first triumph in the SEA V League, breaking a streak of disappointing results. The electrifying atmosphere at the stadium was a far cry from the heartbreak of May’s Challenger Cup, where the Alas women’s team fell to Vietnam.

Under the guidance of Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, the team delivered a statement win, with Bagunas scoring 19 points, including 15 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Michaelo Buddin and Louie Ramirez also shone as the Philippines rebounded after last year’s winless run in the league.

Frigoni emphasized the importance of readiness and team effort: “Everybody has to be ready. We play with the players, not with the name on the shirt. The players have to play. It doesn’t matter if it’s their first time on the national team.”

In other matches, Thailand started strong, defeating two-time champion Indonesia in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-20.

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BRYAN Bagunas lit the sparklers early. Then everyone on Alas Pilipinas started to get in on the explosive display.

Two hours and 12 minutes later, the Philippines ended its run of futility in the Southeast Asian V-League with a 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23 victory over Vietnam on Friday.

For the sizeable crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium that celebrated every point and danced lustily when Bagunas sealed the victory with a thunderous strike, the victory was a vengeance of sorts for the heartbreaking straight-sets loss by Alas Women to the Vietnamese in the Challenger Cup in May.

It was also a huge statement win for Alas Pilipinas and an auspicious start under Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni.

Bagunas helped put Alas Pilipinas in control with his crisp serves and even more explosive attacks, then Frigoni let the young ones shine.

Michaelo Buddin and Louie Ramirez did not disappoint.

Bagunas finished with a match-leading 19 points on 15 attacks, two blocks and two aces as the Philippines notched its first-ever victory in the young league after getting blanked in two legs last year.

“Everybody has to be ready, we play with the players, not with the name on the shirt,” Frigoni said about the player rotations.

“The players have to play, it doesn’t matter if it’s their first time on the national team, for me it doesn’t matter.”

Buddin had 14 points on nine attacks, three blocks and two aces, while Ramirez wound up with 11 points, all on attacks.

Pham Van Hiep and Duong Van Tien scored 15 apiece for Vietnam, while Nguyen Ngoc Thuan had 14 points.

The Philippines takes on Indonesia, while Vietnam battles Thailand on Saturday.

With seasoned aces Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo on board, the Philippines is out to wage a stronger fight as it hosts the second leg of the inaugural Southeast Asia (SEA) Volleyball League on Friday at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Bagunas and Espejo, two of the country’s top spikers, will mark their national team return in the VLeague to form a lethal troika with rising star Steven Rotter, who earned Best Opposite Spiker honors in the first leg held in Jakarta last week.

“They’re experienced players. They’re smart. They can share their experiences with others,” said national men’s team head coach Sergio Veloso as his wards brace for their SEA neighbors anew.

“We can make a stronger job. I feel we can play better now.”

The Philippines takes on Thailand at 7 p.m. for the main event after the opener between Vietnam and Indonesia at 4 p.m. Up next for the hosts are Indonesia and Vietnam on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

More than the games, the Philippines is putting a premium on another international tournament after successfully hosting the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 earlier this month at the Mall of Asia Arena for the second straight year.

“Men’s volleyball is getting popular and we’re very happy to have our close neighbors with us here. We hope to expand next year with more countries,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara in the event presser Thursday at the Seda Nuvali.

“This tournament is very important for Southeast Asia as we, the Philippines along with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are bidding to host the 2025 Volleyball Women’s World Championship,” he added.

The SEA VLeague—presented by PLDT and backed by the City of Santa Rosa, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, One Sports and Cignal, is a brainchild of Suzara and Thailand federation president Shanrit Wongprasert.

The Filipino spikers went winless in three games in Jakarta but not without a fight, especially in the last match where they held a 2-0 lead against Vietnam only to run out of steam in a tough five-setter defeat.

Indonesia, led by MVP Fahry Septian Putratama, completed an unbeaten to become the first leg champion as Thailand and Vietnam completed the podium.
This time at home, the Philippines spikes for a breakthrough.

“It’s a competition so our target is victory,” added Veloso.

The SEA VLeague women’s division will be held on August 4 to 6 in Vihn Phuc, Vietnam, and from August 11 to 13 in Chiangmai, Thailand.

(ai/mnm)