Alas Pilipinas Men retains same core from FIVB Worlds for SEA Games gold push 

Alas Pilipinas Men head to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a familiar core, revived star power, and just enough new energy to spark fresh hope in a medal bid that has eluded the country since 2019.

Head coach Angiolino Frigoni retained nearly the entire group that broke new ground in September’s World Championship run — a team widely praised for revitalizing Philippine men’s volleyball on the international stage. According to the latest Philippine Olympic Committee athlete list, only one adjustment was made, but it’s a meaningful one.

Stepping into the SEA Games roster is Al-Bukharie Sali, a rising 6-foot-5 opposite from the University of Santo Tomas. He replaces veteran libero Jack Kalingking, injecting youth and length into a position already rich with elite talent.

Sali enters a right-wing rotation loaded with achievements, joining Leo Ordiales and Louie Ramirez, two of the country’s most decorated opposites.

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ALAS PILIPINAS MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM | SEA GAMES 2025

FINAL 14 DELEGATION

OH • Bagunas, Espejo, Disquitado, Ramirez, Buddin
S • Adajar, Retamar
MB • Malabunga, Josafat, Taguibolos
OPP • Ordiales, Sali
L • Ybañez, Lorenzo

LABAN, BOYSSSS! pic.twitter.com/FCpkusYUO9

— Torey Canino (@tj_canino) December 4, 2025

The one-two punch of Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo headlines the group, bringing back the same firepower that became the backbone of the Philippines’ best international performances in decades. National University standouts Buds Buddin and Jade Disquitado complete the seven-spiker crew, giving Alas the same depth and versatility that helped the squad thrive in its previous campaign.

Middle blockers Kim Malabunga, Lloyd Josafat, and Peng Taguibolos anchor the defense — a trio known for controlling the middle with size, discipline, and quick reads.

Setters Owa Retamar and Eco Adajar resume their shared command of the offense, preserving the chemistry that has become a defining strength of the national program.

With Kalingking out, the libero tandem shifts to spiker-turned-libero Josh Ybanez and defensive specialist Vince Lorenzo, balancing speed and floor coverage.

Four-time Spikers’ Turf MVP Jude Garcia was originally poised to make his indoor volleyball national team debut, but opted out with his first child on the way — a decision the team has embraced with full support. His absence, though notable, opens a lane for younger talents to take on larger roles.

The Philippines last reached the podium in 2019, when Bagunas, Espejo, Retamar, and Malabunga helped deliver a memorable silver medal on home soil. With the country having earned five bronzes and two silvers historically — but never gold — this year’s group enters Bangkok with both hunger and perspective.

Only four members of that 2019 team remain, underscoring how dramatically the roster has evolved in six years.

The Philippines opens Group B play on December 13 against Myanmar, followed by a pivotal clash with reigning three-time champion Indonesia on December 16. Their December 18 match will determine whether they advance to the semifinals or shift to classification rounds.

Over in Group A, host Thailand leads a bracket that also includes Laos, Vietnam, and Singapore — a field that ensures no easy paths to the podium.

With a blend of seasoned stars, championship-tested young guns, and a maturing system under Frigoni, Alas Pilipinas Men enter the SEA Games not only with expectations — but with a belief that the long-awaited breakthrough is closer than ever.

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