Alas Pilipinas Stuns Egypt for First-Ever FIVB Men’s World Championship Win

Volleyball history was made at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night as Alas Pilipinas pulled off a monumental upset, defeating reigning African champions Egypt in four sets, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, to capture the Philippines’ first-ever victory at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.

Coming in as one of the lowest-ranked teams in the 32-nation tournament, the Nationals defied expectations and the odds, fueled by the deafening cheers of a partisan Filipino crowd. What many thought would be another learning curve turned into a breakthrough moment for the Philippines men’s national volleyball team.

A Historic Start

The opening set was a thriller, with Egypt on the verge of sealing the frame at 24-23 following a Bryan Bagunas error. But a costly service miscue gave Alas a lifeline. The Nationals saved four set points, and behind clutch plays from Kim Malabunga, Leo Ordiales, and Bagunas, the Philippines snatched the set, marking their first-ever frame won in World Championship history. Ordiales sealed it in emphatic fashion with a set-clinching ace, sending the MOA Arena into a frenzy.

Although Egypt bounced back to take Set 2, 25-23, Alas showed no signs of backing down. Ordiales redeemed himself from an error-prone debut against Tunisia with a career night, drilling the decisive off-the-block hit in Set 3 before Bagunas and Marck Espejo delivered the final blows in Set 4. Espejo’s game-winning block sealed the historic triumph, handing the Philippines its first World Championship win.

Stars Rise for the Nationals

Bagunas once again proved his leadership, exploding for 25 points built on 23 attacks and two blocks, while also tallying three successful receptions and six excellent digs. Ordiales delivered his best performance yet, rebounding from his rough opener with 21 points, including 19 attacks and two aces. Espejo chipped in 13 points, while Malabunga and Lloyd Josafat contributed crucial blocks to frustrate Egypt’s attack.

Setter Joshua Retamar steered the offense masterfully, dishing out 40 excellent sets and even scoring twice himself. His playmaking unlocked the confidence of the hitters, allowing Alas to consistently pressure the African powerhouse.

Statistically, the Philippines outgunned Egypt in key areas despite committing more errors, 33-29. Alas led in spike kills (58-52), aces (4-1), and kill blocks (11-8), showcasing their growth and resilience under pressure.

Egypt Left Stunned

Egypt, coming off a stunning win over Iran, could not replicate their fiery form. Seif Abed led the team with 15 points, while Middle blocker Mohamed Osman Elhaddad Hamada chipped in 14 with five kill blocks, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop the inspired Filipino squad.

Game Highlights: Alas Pilipinas vs. Egypt

Watch the game highlights between Philippines and Egypt in the pool phase of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.

Road Ahead for Pool A

The victory pushed Alas Pilipinas into a four-way tie at 1-1 in Pool A, alongside Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia. With a Round of 16 berth suddenly within reach, the Philippines will face another tough test against Iran on Thursday, September 18, at 5:30 p.m., in what could be a virtual knockout clash.

Elsewhere in Pool A, Iran rebounded from their opening loss to Egypt by beating Tunisia, 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-16), while Egypt and Tunisia will also battle for survival on Thursday.

For Alas Pilipinas, though, the night belonged to history. Against all odds, the Philippines proved it can compete with the world’s best—and the dream of advancing to the knockout rounds is now very much alive.