Alas Pilipinas Men lineup for 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship

The Philippine men's national volleyball team Alas Pilipinas announced its final lineup for the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship.

Veteran Bryan Bagunas was named as captain of the 14-man team who will represent the Philippines in the global tournament hosted by the country.

The final list includes:

• Bryan Bagunas (outside hitter)
• Josh Ybanez (libero)
• Joshua Retamar (setter)
• Vince Lorenzo (libero)
• Kim Malabunga (middle blocker)
• Jade Disquitado (outside hitter)
• Jack Kalingking (libero)
• Marck Espejo (outside hitter)
• Peng Taguibolos (middle blocker)
• Leo Ordiales (opposite)
• Eco Adajar (setter)
• Lloyd Josafat (middle blocker)
• Louie Ramirez (opposite)
• Michaelo Buddin (outside hitter)

Veterans Bagunas and Espejo were both part of the national team that claimed silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The two also played professionally abroad, including stints in Japan.

Liberos Jack Kalingking, Vince Lorenzo, and Josh Ybañez will anchor the team’s floor defense. Kalingking was also part of the 2019 squad, while Lorenzo is a Spikers’ Turf champion with Cignal HD. Ybañez, a two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player from the University of Santo Tomas, has been converted into a libero for the national team.

Kim Malabunga is another veteran presence in the squad and will be joined by fellow middle blockers Lloyd Josafat and Peng Taguibolos.

Aside from Bagunas and Espejo, National University's Jade Disquitado and Buds Buddin will complete the set of outside hitters, while their teammate Leo Ordiales, alongside two-time NCAA MVP Louie Ramirez, will play as opposites.

Two-time UAAP Finals MVP Joshua Retamar and De La Salle University's Eco Adajar, meanwhile, are tasked with running the offense as the team’s setters.

Angiolino Frigoni will call the shots as head coach of the national team.

Notable cuts from the wide pool include Steven Rotter, JP Bugaoan, Lucca Mamone, and reigning UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas.

The Philippines will open its campaign on Friday night against Tunisia. Alas Pilipinas will then face Egypt on September 16, followed by Iran on September 18. All Philippine games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.

READ MORE | Alas Pilipinas Men's schedule at the FIVB Men's World Championship

—JKC, GMA Integrated News