Alas men stay calm amid storm

MANILA, Philippines — Patience will continue to be a virtue for Angiolino Frigoni and the Alas Pilipinas men’s team.

Frigoni and the Filipino spikers absorbed another setback Friday night, falling to Indonesia, 25-18, 25-17, 23-25, 24-26, 25-19, in the SEA V-League Leg 2 in Jakarta, fully aware that they are still far from full strength.

It came a day after being swept by the Cambodians, the Leg 1 titlists, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, the day before.

Energetic Josh Yabañez, the Leg 1 Best Libero, has been carrying the fight for Alas along with a slew of talented rookies.

The result points to another fifth-place finish for the Philippines, mirroring its campaign in Leg 1 in Candon, Ilocos Sur last week.

But once the cavalry arrives – led by Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo – the Nationals are expected to return to fearsome form, much like they did in last year’s World Championship in Manila, where Alas posted a historic 19th-place finish as the second-best Asian team.

That moment should come soon, as Alas gears up for a bigger battle ahead in the Asian Games this September in Aichi, Japan.

There, Alas – expected to have Bagunas and Espejo back in the fold – will be grouped in a tough Pool D with China, runner-up in the last Asiad in Hangzhou, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei. The Nationals will look to pull off an upset or two.

Until then, the Nationals will have to soak in everything – including this painful but valuable SEA V-League experience – and use it as motivation for the challenges ahead.