Camille Naredo

Article (news)

fivb

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175767666986520250912-fivb-mens-moa-JC-1211.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Team captain Bryan Bagunas with Alas Pilipinas Men during their match against Tunisia in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men&#x27;s World Championship. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Alas Pilipinas Men tried to hold their ground, but could not stop the surge of World No. 43 Tunisia in their opening match at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men&#x27;s World Championship on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</p><p>The Bryan Bagunas-paced squad fell to its first rival, 13-25, 17-25, 23-25, going down with a 0-1 win-loss record in Pool A of the 32-nation contest.</p><p>The Tunisians played the role of spoiler in the Philippines&#x27; first-ever appearance in the FIVB Worlds, while getting a 1-0 head start in the group also joined by Egypt and Iran.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/9/10/bagunas-espejo-banner-alas-pilipinas-roster-for-fivb-mens-world-championship-2025-2205"><strong>READ: Bagunas, Espejo banner Alas Pilipinas&#x27; 14-man roster for FIVB Men&#x27;s World Championship 2025<br/></strong></a></div><p>Bagunas was the silver lining of this game, showing what he is capable of as he overcame a long layoff due to an injury.</p><p>The Alas captain believes they showed their &quot;potential&quot; especially during the final frame, where they almost completed a comeback but came up short, 23-25.</p><p>&quot;For me, ‘yun nga, ‘di good start pero for the third set, nakita ko naman ‘yung potential ng men’s volleyball,&quot; said Bagunas, who poured in a game-high 23 points anchored on 20 attacks, two aces, and one block to go with six receptions.</p><p>Alas Men, ranked 82nd in the world before this match, had a forgettable start as their opponents immediately unleashed a 12-1 run from the first serve to eventually take Set 1.</p><p>Only behind by five in Set 2, 14-19, after a Jade Disquitado kill, the Tunisians found the attacks and blocks, as well as Filipino faults to pull away, capped by an Alas service error in the end, 17-25.</p><p>The late parts of Set 3 were a neck-and-neck battle, with Bagunas leading the charge as he converted some clutch hits, but Ben Romdhane Oussama and Ben Slimene Khaled found the back-to-back kills to close out the match that lasted one hour and eight minutes</p><p>Bagunas vowed that Alas would show up stronger in their next assignment, which is Egypt.</p><p>&quot;For sure, kami babawi kami sa next game,&quot; he said.</p><p>Marck Espejo, also returning from injury just like Bagunas, added nine markers and four digs, while Peng Taguibolos added four points.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABg3_c-i9wCnIW5P"></script></div>

<p>Tunisia played the role of spoiler in the Philippines' first-ever appearance in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship. #MWCH #MWCH2025 </p>

Tunisia played the role of spoiler in the Philippines' first-ever appearance in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship. #MWCH #MWCH2025

Bagunas shines but Alas Pilipinas' FIVB Worlds debut spoiled by Tunisia

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Bagunas shines but Alas Pilipinas' FIVB Worlds debut spoiled by Tunisia

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 12, 2025 08:15 PM PHT

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Updated September 12, 2025 11:16 PM PHT

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absnews

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2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship 2025

Alas Pilipinas

Bryan Bagunas

Tunisia

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