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Alas Pilipinas’ build-up for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games is now in full swing.
Alas Pilipinas Men have begun their final preparations for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, arriving in Taiwan on Sunday noon for a two-week training camp a month before the biennial meet.
The same Alas men’s team that made history in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship last September are in Kaohsiung for the intensive build-up that will include six friendly matches against powerhouse Taiwanese squads.
“We’re going to prepare well for the SEA Games and we really need to train together since we came from a long break, too,” said Marck Espejo, who contributed strongly in the World Championship where the Philippines finished in 19th place among 32 teams.
Also part of the SEA Games pool are Owa Retamar, Leo Ordiales, Josh Ybañez, Kim Malabunga, Peng Taguibolos, Louie Ramirez, Lloyd Josafat, Buds Buddin, Vince Lorenzo, Eco Adajar and Jade Disquitado, according to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
University of Santo Tomas standouts Al-Bukharie Sali and JJ Macam also received a call-up, said PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, while captain Bryan Bagunas remains in Japan for the SV.League with Osaka Bluteon.
“I’m super happy and grateful for this opportunity. I used to just dream of being part of Alas, and now it finally happened,” said Sali, a six-foot-five opposite spiker. “I’m really excited because I used to join their training before. The intensity is so high and it’s a big help for me.”
The Philippines last reached the SEA Games podium in 2019 on home soil, where the men’s squad clinched silver after a final showdown with Indonesia. Instrumental in that run were Bagunas, Espejo, Malabunga, and Retamar, who will once again lead the national team this December in Thailand.
Since then, Alas Men finished fifth in both the Hanoi and Phnom Penh Games as the country continues to chase a breakthrough gold, with the program’s best results so far being two silver medals—including a finals appearance in 1977—and five bronze finishes.
Banner images from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Facebook.