Alas men pick up insights for ‘Worlds’ stint

Alas Pilipinas Men --PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLLEYBALL PHILIPPINES / X

Alas Pilipinas’ men’s team continued to pick up valuable insights after wrapping up a two-game exhibition series against Osaka Bluteon over the weekend.

And these lessons will come in handy as the squad continues preparing for its trailblazing appearance in the world championship that the country will host in September next year.

“The speed in blocking, quickness in other areas. These are just a few of the things we need to focus on,” team captain Kim Malabunga said. “Individually and as a team, we have to improve in preparation for the world championships.”

Osaka Bluteon asserted its superiority and scored a 25-17, 25-10, 25-21 victory over the national men’s team last Sunday in Pasig City.

Osaka Bluteon is composed of several players from the fan-favorite Japanese men’s volleyball team 2024 Paris Olympic roster such as hard-hitting opposite Yuji Nishida, libero Tomohiro Yamamoto, middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi and outside hitter Shoma Tomita. The team also has the services of Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Jaeschke and Cuban player Miguel Lopez Castro.

Nishida again came up huge for the Japan V.League squad with 12 points in that second win.

Accurate gauge

Osaka also defeated Alas Pilipinas, 29-27, 25-23, 25-12, during their first encounter on Saturday.

But the defeats hardly mattered as the Nationals not only got to play with their idols but also had a pretty accurate gauge of where they are in terms of preparations for their world championship appearance.

“This is also for the sake of Philippine volleyball so that we can improve because we all know that we are still far from being ready for next year’s World Championship,” setter EJ Casaña said.

Alas Pilipinas more than held its own against the powerful Japanese squad, catching the eye of some of the team’s standouts.

Yamamoto, the tireless floor defender, was among them.

“They are a great team,” the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Best Libero said through a translator. “We had some tough moments [in the match] as well but we’re very grateful to be able to play with everyone right here.” —WITH A REPORT FROM PATRICIA MARIE REYES