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For Alas Pilipinas Men, Ike Barilea wasn’t just their teammate — he was their bunso who brought light and his love for the game.
Tributes continue to pour in for Ike Barilea, the young volleyball star who passed away at an early age of 21 last Tuesday, November 11.
A promising talent out of Negros Occidental, Barilea was part of the Alas Pilipinas-backed Cignal in the AVC Men’s Champions League last June, before being included in their initial player pool for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Having spent time with the team until their New York camp, Ike left a lasting impression on his national team brothers, being a young dreamer who brought his passion and love for the game to the court.
If anything, this is why his death came as a shock to Alas Men and the local volleyball community. More than a young talent being gone too soon, they had lost a teammate and a person that they could call their brother.
“Sobrang close namin lalo nung magkasama kami sa Japan, kaya nung nalaman namin ‘yung nangyari sa kanya, sobrang sad kami na grabe, ang bata pa ni Ike tapos ganyan na ‘yung nangyari sa kanya,” wing spiker Louie Ramirez told The GAME in an exclusive interview.
According to local police, Ike figured in a vehicular accident in Capiz City, as he collided with a commuter bus while riding on a motorcycle. While Barilea was initially rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital, his condition ultimately deteriorated as he passed away at around 5 p.m.
Other Alas Men players, including Josh Ybañez, Kim Malabunga, Jade Disquitado, and Leo Ordiales have since mourned Ike’s passing through their social media accounts.
“As in every moment naalala namin si Ike. Training, then after ng training may magsasabi na ‘Wala na si Ike, pre’ Ganon, lahat talaga kami parang nagluluksa. Sobrang close namin sa batang ‘yon and sobrang bait. Parang wala kang magiging problema kung sya ‘yung kasama mo,” Ramirez recalled.
It was Ybañez who first relayed news of Ike’s passing to Alas Men, according to Marck Espejo, after he caught wind of rumors involving his motorcycle accident.
“‘Yung kay Ike, nalaman lang namin nung nag-message si Josh Ybañez sa GC namin, na sabi niya mag-ingat daw pag nagmomotor. Nagulat po kami nung sinabi ‘yung pangalan ni Ike, na nadisgrasya nga po siya,” Espejo told The GAME.
Eventually, unverified videos from the accident started spreading on social media, and while they were in denial at first, Espejo and Alas Men eventually received confirmation of Ike being the person involved in the said incident.
“Syempre nakakaawa at nakakapanghina kasi sobrang bata pa niya talaga tapos nakasama din namin sa team. Isa siya sa mga pinakabata sa team at naawa talaga ako sa nangyari sa kanya. Marami pang pwede na mangyari sa kanya pero sadly ganon ‘yung nangyari,” Espejo lamented.
A lasting impression
For Alas Men, Ike Barilea was the bunso, being the youngest member of the national team who was a ray of positive energy for his big brothers. As Ramirez recalls, Ike was his travel buddy in Japan during the Champions’ League, which highlighted the 21-year-old’s warmth and humility off the court.
“First time niya mangibang bansa noon and siya ‘yung kasama ko, tapos pag bumibili siya ng mga sapatos, parang pera ko ‘yung ginagamit niya and sabi niya, ‘Bayaran ko na lang kuya pag-uwi ng Pilipinas’, tapos hindi ko na siya sinisingil,” Ramirez recalled.
“Siya na lang palagi nagsasabi na ‘kuya, bayaran ko na lang’. Sige lang ako nang sige, kaya sobrang lungkot kasi hindi namin inaasahan na ganon ‘yung mangyayari sa kanya.”
Similarly, Espejo’s core memory of Ike came in Japan, describing him as the “bunso na makulit” that was fun to be with. Being one of the veterans, Espejo said, it was natural to care for Ike, especially after he was revealed to be the youngest member in the national team pool.
“Parang siya ‘yung bunso sa team and siya ‘yung laging inaalagan. Siya ‘yung bunso na makulit sa loob at labas ng court na masarap kasama,” Espejo recalled. “Pinaka-memorable na experience ko sa kanya is nung tapos na kami sa AVC non, nasa hotel kami and naglalaro kami ng cards. Nandon siya, nasa tabi ko and sobra nakakatawa talaga siya.”
Espejo was also one of Ike’s many tour guides in Osaka once Alas-Cignal wrapped up their Champions’ League campaign.
“Tapos nung free day sa Japan noon, lahat sila pumuntang city tas ako, si Jau Umandal, Wendel Miguel at Owa Retamar, naiwan. Kasama namin siya [Ike] naiwan, so inikot namin siya sa lugar, kumain kaming ramen tas libre ko pa siya non.”
On the court, Espejo described Ike as a young talent with a high ceiling, which was accompanied by his athletic gifts. In fact, he and Alas Men were even pushing Ike to pursue a collegiate career in Manila to get the exposure and support he needed to sharpen his talent.
While Ike was intent on staying in Negros, he did reach out to Espejo for a tryout with the Criss Cross King Crunchers earlier this year.
“Nung huling usap ko sa kanya months ago, minessage din nya ako kung pwede daw ba magtry out sa Criss Cross. Syempre, mahirap kasi marami nang players and wala akong mapangako, pero sayang po talaga si Ike, as in. Marami pang pwede mangyari sa kanya pero kinuha siya ni Lord,” the Alas veteran said.
For his part, Ramirez described Ike as a sponge and a highly-coachable talent.
“Sobrang sipag ni Ike! Simula nung nakasama namin siya sa national team, tapos tinututukan siya ni Coach Angiolino [Frigoni] non. Lahat ng sinasabi ng coaches, sinusunod nya tapos wala siyang nasasabi. Gawa lang siya nang gawa, kaya sobrang dumikit ‘yung loob namin sa kanya,” the current Cignal star shared.
While Ike Barilea may be gone too early, his memory will always remain with Alas Men, especially as they gear up for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December.
Espejo shared, “Sa darating po na SEA Games, gagawin din po namin ito na motivation, na part sya at never naman siyang nawala. Kasama namin siya hangang dulo.”
“Bilang mga player, gusto namin i-alay or ipakita na ito kami kahit na may nawala samin. Sobrang inspired pa rin kami maglaro,” concluded Ramirez.
Banner images courtesy of the Spikers’ Turf.