Alas Pilipinas men tried to hold their ground, but could not stop the surge of World No. 43 Tunisia in their opening match at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Friday, September 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Bryan Bagunas-paced squad fell to its first rival, 13-25, 17-25, 23-25, going down with a 0-1 win-loss record in Pool A of the 32-nation contest.

The Tunisians played the role of spoiler in the Philippines’ first-ever appearance in the FIVB Worlds, while getting a 1-0 head start in the group also joined by Egypt and Iran.

Bagunas was the silver lining of this game, showing what he is capable of as he overcame a long layoff due to an injury.

The Alas captain believes they showed their “potential” especially during the final frame, where they almost completed a comeback but came up short, 23-25.

“For me, ‘di good start pero for the third set, nakita ko naman ‘yung potential ng men’s volleyball,” said Bagunas, who poured in a game-high 23 points anchored on 20 attacks, two aces and one block to go with six receptions.

Alas men, ranked 82nd in the world before this match, had a forgettable start as their opponents immediately unleashed a 12-1 run from the first serve to eventually take Set 1.

Only behind by five in Set 2, 14-19, after a Jade Disquitado kill, the Tunisians found the attacks and blocks, as well as Filipino faults to pull away, capped by an Alas service error in the end, 17-25.

The late parts of Set 3 were a neck-and-neck battle, with Bagunas leading the charge as he converted some clutch hits, but Ben Romdhane Oussama and Ben Slimene Khaled found the back-to-back kills to close out the match that lasted one hour and eight minutes

Bagunas vowed that Alas would show up stronger in their next assignment, which is Egypt.

“For sure, kami babawi kami sa next game,” he said.

Marck Espejo, also returning from injury just like Bagunas, added nine markers and four digs, while Peng Taguibolos added four points. (ABS-CBN News)