FIVB: History-maker Alas Pilipinas shoots for Round of 16 spot in do-or-die clash vs. Iran

After doing the improbable, Alas Pilipinas Men looks to chase history once more as it squares off with Iran in a do-or-die match that will determine its fate at the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship. 

The Filipinos, the tournament's hosts, are set to lock horns with the world no. 15 Iranians at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 and the loser bowing out of contention. 

And while the stakes are higher this time, the players are approaching the game with the same mentality they used during their historic win over Egypt on Tuesday night. 

"Same lang po sa ginawa namin dito ngayon, ie-enjoy lang po namin 'yung game. Nothing to lose po," Marck Espejo, a national team mainstay, said. 

"Siyempre, medyo pressure din po kasi nanalo po kami ng one game so may chance pa po kami makapasok sa Round of 16. Boost po talaga ng confidence yung pagkapanalo na ‘to."

[Same as what we did today, we'll just enjoy the game. Nothing to lose... Of course, there's pressure because we won one game. So we have the chance to enter the Round of 16. This win is really a boost of confidence.]

Alas Pilipinas is heading into the crucial match high in confidence and spirit.

The Filipinos stunned African champion and world no. 22 Egypt in a  29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 win that marked the country's first-ever victory in the history of the World Championship. 

Bryan Bagunas proved his world-class caliber as he torched the Egyptians with 25 points anchored on 23 attacks and two blocks laced with six digs and three receptions. 

But the high-flying spiker didn't do the job alone as rising opposite spiker Leo Ordiales erupted for 21 markers built on 19 attacks and two aces while Marck Espejo chipped in 13 points, highlighted by the game-sealing block.

The win strengthened Alas Pilipinas' chances at making it through the Round of 16 as the Philippines improved to 1-1.Their three Pool A foes in Iran, Tunisia, and Egypt all sit at 1-1 as well. 

But Alas isn't minding the pressure as they look to just savor the moment of playing at the biggest stage of the sport. 

"For me, ayun nga, sabi naman namin nothing to lose. Go lang, enjoy lang naming yung laro and ayun nga, kung ano yung natutunan namin, apply lang namin," team captain Bagunas said. 

"Dahan-dahan lang, one point at a time. Sabi nung coach namin before the start of the game, ayun nga, every point is a victory."

[For me, we said we had nothing to lose. Go out, enjoy the game and there, whatever we learned, we apply... Slowly, one point at a time. Our coach told us before the start of the game, every point is a victory.]

Shaky start for Iran in FIVB Worlds

Iran, meanwhile, is also looking to get past pool play despite a shaky campaign so far. 

The Iranians suffered a stunning loss to Egypt before turning back Tunisia in four sets on Tuesday  to break through in the tournament and prove why it's among the Asian powerhouse teams in the 32-team field. 

Poriya Hossein and team captain Morteza Sharifi led the way yesterday with 21 and 18 points each while Ali Hajipour chipped in 14 markers.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News