Owa Retamar's playmaking lifts Alas Pilipinas to rare Round of 16 chance in FIVB Worlds

Wherever Owa Retamar's playmaking is, history follows.

From a rare fifth straight crown in the UAAP to a silver-medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and now an international victory beyond the continent to his name.

This, as Alas Pilipinas Men cliched their first victory in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship at the expense of higher-ranked Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, before an enthusiastic home crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Sobrang saya kasi part ulit ako ng history in only our first World Championship [appearance] and nanalo kami against Egypt. First time lahat sobrang saya,” said Retamar.

[So happy because I'm part of history again in only our first World Championship appearance and we won against Egypt. All of these for the first time, so I'm so happy.]

The win allowed the national team to even the race in Group A, with Egypt, Tunisia, and Iran also boasting 1-1 win-loss records and three points each, leaving the top two spots to qualify for the Round of 16 still up for grabs.

After absorbing a lopsided defeat to world No. 40 Tunisia, 25-13, 25-17, 25-23, on opening day last Saturday, a possible win in the group stage looked even more out of reach for the national team let alone making it far into the tournament.

But the crucial 5:30 p.m. match against Iran on Thursday offered a rare chance for the Philippines to prove it belongs to the world stage it had the chance to set foot in for the first time due to the country’s hosting.

“Buti na lang talaga hindi kami sumuko. Binigay namin ‘yung best namin, nag-enjoy kami,” Retamar said. “Siyempre galing na kami sa talo nung first game namin. Pero alam namin na hindi kami ganu’n maglaro ng volleyball.”

[It's a good thing we didn't give up. We gave our best, we enjoyed ourselves... Of course, we came from a loss in our first game. But we know that's not how we play volleyball.]

Retamar helped three Filipinos to double-digit outings with his 40-excellent set playmaking and made it as the seventh best setter in the statistical race to tie with Portugal's Miguel Tavares Rodrigues and Finland's Fedor Ivanov's after two matches.

Bryan Bagunas was the lone bright spot for the Philippines in their first assignment against Tunisia with his 20-point performance. This time around, Retamar also had Leo Ordiales and Marck Espejo, who posted 21 and 13 points, respectively as attacking options next to Bagunas, who led the way with 25 points.

“Unang una siyempre ‘yung tinuturo sa akin ni coach Angiolino [Frigoni] na scoring. ‘Yun yung number one priority na palagi kong iniisip na kung sino ‘yung pwedeng umiskor ayun ‘yung priority ko. And then saka ko papaganahin lahat. Buti na lang nag-perform lahat ng maayos. ‘Yung connection naming lahat gumana,” Retamar said.

“And nag-usap lang kami nu’ng isang gabi sinabihan ko si Toto [Leo Ordiales] na wag siyang ma-pressure, and ilabas niya lang ‘yung laro niya. Feel niya lang na parang friendly match lang ulit to. Wag muna niyang isipin ‘yung mga nanonood. Sinabi ko sakanya na ‘To, pag first set ko pa lang sa iyo napatay mo na, madali na akong magse-set kasi alam ko na ang gagawin’,” he added.

[First of all, what Coach Angiolino taught me was scoring. That's the number one priority, I'm always thinking of who could score, that's my priority. And then that's when we get everything working. I'm glad everyone performed well. The connection between everyone worked... And when we were talking the other night, I told Toto (Leo Ordiales) not to feel pressure and just play his game. Feel like it's just a friendly match. Don't think about the people watching. I told him, if my first set to you, you score the kill, it'll be easier to set because I'll know what to do.] 

Retamar, whose Team USA idol and fellow setter Micah Christenson is bound for the next round, is taking inspiration from him while still keeping his focus on tackling what’s in front of Alas.

“Siyempre focus muna sa Iran. Pag palarin kami na matalo namin ang Iran, sobrang saya ng buong bansa na makapasok ang Philippines ng Round of 16 na bihira lang din talaga mangyari. Sobrang saya kung mangyayari ‘yun, and siyempre may excitement kasi nandun ‘yung [Team USA]. Pero kailangang mag-focus pa rin sa ngayon,” said Retamar.

[Focus is on Iran. If we're fortunate enough to beat Iran, the whole country will be happy that the Philippines will enter the Round of 16 because that's so rare. We'll be so happy if that happens and of course, there's excitement because Team USA will be there. But we need to focus on now.]

The two-time UAAP Best Setter is also hoping that the win offers something meaningful to his fellow Filipinos just as much as it mattered to the national team.

“Siyempre sa amin it’s the best feeling. Kaya this World Championship, hindi lang ako ‘yung maraming matututunan. Lahat kami as Philippine team. And sana ‘yung Pilipinas din na nanonood. Napanood nila kami kung paano kami maglaro [in the] international level, and kung gaano ka-competitive ‘yung volleyball.”

[Of course for us it's the best feeling. This World Championship, I'm not the only one learning a lot. All of us as the Philippine team. And I hope the Philippines is watching. They saw how we play on the international level and how competitive we are in volleyball.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News