Alas Pilipinas make history with 19th-place finish at FIVB Worlds, second-best in Asia

Alas Pilipinas capped a groundbreaking campaign in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship by finishing 19th overall, a result that not only marked a first for Philippine men’s volleyball but also established the squad as the second-best Asian team in the prestigious global tournament.

The Filipinos ended their Pool A stint with a 1-2 card, collecting four points on five sets won and seven lost. Their historic breakthrough came in the form of a five-set victory against Egypt — the country’s first-ever win at a World Championship — before nearly shocking Asian powerhouse Iran in a thrilling five-set duel witnessed by a roaring Mall of Asia Arena crowd.

That spirited run positioned the Philippines just behind Iran, the lone Asian side to advance to the Round of 16, and ahead of continental rival Japan, which surprisingly crashed to 23rd place with only three points.

Measured against the sport’s traditional titans, Alas Pilipinas’ 19th-place finish looked even more remarkable. The Filipinos wound up higher than three-time world champion Brazil (17th), reigning Olympic gold medalist France (18th), and perennial contenders like Cuba (20th), Germany (21st), and Qatar (22nd). 

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What a ride! Our first-ever World Championship Journey ends with Alas finishing 19th in the !

We came as underdogs but left with pride & puso

This is only the beginning—We’ll come back stronger and more determined

Sea Games 2025#MWCH2025 #AlasPilipinas pic.twitter.com/6qKYj6v2g8

— Alas Men’s Volleyball Team (@PHNMVT) September 19, 2025

The list of squads that finished below the Philippines further underscored the breakthrough: Ukraine (24th), Egypt (25th), Colombia (26th), South Korea (27th), Libya (28th), Romania (29th), China (30th), Chile (31st), and Algeria (32nd).

The performance also gave the Philippines a significant boost in the global rankings, climbing 11 places from No. 88 to No. 77 — the program’s steepest jump in recent memory.

While their run ended at the group stage, the Filipinos left a lasting impression at the 32-nation showcase, proving that they could hold their own against established programs and energizing a home crowd that rallied behind them at every turn.

The tournament continued with the Round of 16 which began on Saturday, September 20, at the Mall of Asia Arena, featuring defending champion Italy, 2022 runner-up Poland, and other world-class contenders.

For Alas Pilipinas, however, the mission has already been accomplished — they’ve planted the Philippine flag firmly on volleyball’s biggest stage and carved a chapter that could inspire the sport for generations to come.

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