The Philippines joins the global celebration of the World Volleyball Day at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Monday (July 7, 2025). Present were members of the Alas Pilipinas Women, their official fans club members and officials, and members of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and the Local Organizing Committee for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Philippines 2025. (Contributed photo)
Following a festive celebration of World Volleyball Day at the SM Mall of Asia last Monday, attention now turns to the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Men’s V.League, set to kick off this Wednesday at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The global celebration, held for the first time in the country, brought together members of the Alas Pilipinas Women’s team, their official fan club, and officials from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), including vice president Ricky Palou, secretary-general Don Caringal, and key figures from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Philippines 2025.
“It was an amazing celebration by our very own PNVF and the LOC for the world championship and this impressed the FIVB leadership,” said PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara on Tuesday.
As the Southeast Asian Men’s V.League gets underway, the Philippine squad, coached by Angiolino Frigoni, looks to make a strong showing against powerhouse teams from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Newcomer Steve Rotter, a Filipino-American, bolsters the Alas Pilipinas roster, which is missing injured star Bryan Bagunas but retains key players Kim Malabunga, Owa Retamar, Peng Taguibolos, Louie Ramirez, and Buds Buddin. The team is also gearing up for the FIVB World Championship this September.
Alas Pilipinas recently swept its matches in the Alas Invitationals at the Araneta Coliseum but went winless in the AVC Nations Cup in Bahrain.
Thailand, last year’s double-gold winner in the SEA V.League, returns with a formidable lineup featuring AVC Nations Cup veterans Amornthep Khonhan, Anurak Phanram, Kissada Nilsawai, and Chaiwat Thungkham.
Indonesia, which finished second last year, will be led by standouts Hendra Kurniawan, Farhan Halim, Doni Hayrono, and Rivan Nurmulkas. Vietnam is bringing in AVC mainstays Van Quoc Duy, T.D. Tuyen, and Ngoc Thuan.
Cambodia joins the competition after topping the 2024 SEA V.League Challenge, where it defeated national teams from Malaysia, Laos, and Singapore.
The SEA V.League stakes a total prize pool of $55,000 (P3.15 million). The champion will take home $13,000 (approximately P743,000), while the second and third placers will earn $12,000 and $11,000, respectively. Fourth and fifth placers will receive $10,000 and $9,000.
