MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas pulled off a historic bronze-medal finish in the Men’s Southeast Asia V. League at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Sunday, a feat speaking well of its buildup for the FIVB World Championship that the country is hosting next year.
Minus injured main cogs Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, Team Philippines got the job done with Kim Malabunga and Buds Buddin leading the charge.
For their effort, Malabunga earned the Second Best Middle Blocker honors while Buddin, a product of National U, took the Second Best Outside Spiker plum.
“It’s a bronze medal. It’s better to start with a bronze medal than start without a medal,” said new national coach Angiolino Frigoni.
“But for me, we are just starting. We only played in this competition this year,” added Frigoni, an Olympic veteran coach with the Italy women’s team.
Frigoni took over only last month and produced results right off the serve for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Alas is determined to push its drive to improve and be competitive in time for the 2025 FIVB World Championship.