MANILA, Philippines – Alas Pilipinas suffered their first defeat at the AVC Nations Cup, falling to a composed Pakistan squad in four sets (25–18, 25–12, 18–25, 25–22) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Bahrain. Despite a strong third-set showing and a late rally in the fourth, the Filipinos couldn’t complete the comeback and now face a must-win scenario to stay in contention.
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| Leo Ordiales stepped up for the Alas Pilipinas Men in a strong four-set performance against Pakistan, racking up 22 points, including 5 blocks and 2 aces. Photo courtesy: PNVF |
Alas Pilipinas had a slow start against Pakistan, conceding three unanswered points, but quickly found their rhythm and leveled the game in no time.
Marck Espejo, team captain of Alas Pilipinas, showed early jitters in the match, overcooking several scoring opportunities for the Philippines.
Despite the shaky start, Team Pilipinas managed to close the gap and kept the opening set within striking distance.
Alas may have struggled to convert on offense, but their defense stood strong, with solid team blocking keeping them in the game.
It didn’t take long for Pakistan to figure out the Filipinos’ strategy. Once they decoded Alas’ gameplay, the gap widened quickly, putting them on the brink of taking the first set.
While Espejo struggled to find his footing, the team turned to Leo Ordiales, who ignited an Alas comeback that narrowly fell short due to costly unforced errors.
It was a tough opening set for the Philippines, as they dropped Set 1 to Pakistan, 25–18.
Trouble struck Alas Pilipinas as captain Marck Espejo appeared to suffer a foot injury, forcing him to sit out at the start of the second set.
The second set told a similar story, with Pakistan keeping the Philippines off balance. Musawer Khan continued to trouble Alas with his unstoppable spikes.
In contrast, the Pakistanis had little trouble dealing with Alas’ attacks, effortlessly receiving spikes and sending returns from all angles of the court, keeping the Filipinos on the defensive throughout the set.
The Philippines remained stuck in single digits for most of the second set and ultimately suffered another setback, falling 25–12 to Pakistan.
As the team entered the third set trailing two sets to none, there were still no signs of a comeback from Espejo. His absence continued to loom large as the Filipinos looked for answers to stop Pakistan’s momentum.
Even without their captain and ace player, Alas Pilipinas opened the third set on a positive note. In Espejo’s absence, Ordiales stepped up as the team’s go-to option, carrying the scoring load and setting the tone early on.
For the first time in the match, the Philippines seized the lead, thanks to the energy and hustle of their second-stringers and their gang blocking.
The Pakistanis appeared stunned by Ordiales, as the NU standout fired four unanswered points, including two service aces.
At last, Alas Pilipinas found their rhythm and secured a set win over the aggressive Pakistanis, taking the third frame 25–18.
Alas Pilipinas drew first blood in the fourth set, carrying over the same energy and effective three-man blocking that fueled their third-set win.
The Philippines built a five-point lead over Pakistan, but it quickly slipped away due to miscommunication and unforced errors.
After a strong start in the fourth set, Team Pilipinas soon found themselves trailing, with Pakistan closing in on sealing the match.
Alas Pilipinas mounted a late rally and reached the 20-point mark, but fell short as Pakistan closed out the fourth set 25–22, handing the Filipinos their first loss at the AVC Nations Cup.
Alas Pilipinas faces a must-win showdown against Chinese Taipei tomorrow to keep their tournament hopes alive and secure a spot in the next phase.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express