Playing against idols, unfortunately the Filipino men hold their own

Alas, Pilipinas Men and Japan’s Osaka Bluteon.–PNVF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The men’s volleyball team kept its heads high despite a three-set defeat to Japanese S V.League club Osaka Bluteon on the first day of the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals at the PhilSports Arena.

Osaka Bluteon features players from the fan-favorite Japan men’s volleyball team from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including hard-hitting opposite Yuji Nishida, libero Tomohiro Yamamoto, middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi and outside hitter Shoma Tomita. The team also features Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Jaeschke and Cuban player Miguel Lopez Castro.

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The Alas Pilipinas players thought they were not only playing against world-class volleyball players, but also against their idols.

READ: Unfortunately, the Filipino men fall for the Yuji Nishida-led Osaka

“From the first moment I saw (Nishida) on the court, I was just blown away by him. Even though we were facing each other, whenever he was on the screen, I would still cheer for him,” UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez jokingly told Inquirer after a 29-27, 25-23, 25-12 loss on Saturday.

Ybañez even owns a Nishida jersey which he wears in a TikTok video with fellow Alas Pilipinas player Vince Lorenzo.

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Still, the University of Santo Tomas player said he was not surprised by Alas Pilipinas’ good performance at one of Japan’s top club teams.

“I actually expected this kind of result, where our team is really going to fight,” Ybañez said. “I have a lot of confidence in the team, especially in the coaches and my teammates who are on the field.”

Ybañez said they just had to make up for their mistakes from the match.

For setter EJ Casaña, the match was a challenge to compete against players he had seen play on the Olympic stage.

“We were very excited when we found out we would be playing against them,” Casaña said.

READ: Japanese teams ready to test Alas Pilipinas’ mettle

The Invitationals will be the first time the national team will face select players from the Japan national team. Other past friendlies against the Japan team have been canceled due to COVID-19 health protocols in 2022 and “unforeseen circumstances” in June 2024.

Casaña said the experience will help them prepare for the 2025 FIVB World Championship. As solo hosts, Alas Pilipinas automatically qualified for the tournament, where they will compete against the best volleyball teams from 32 countries in the world.

“This is also in the interest of Philippine volleyball so that we can improve ourselves because we all know that we are far from ready for next year’s World Cup,” Casaña added.

Libero Yamamoto recognized the efforts of Alas Pilipinas.

“They are a great team,” the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Best Libero said through an interpreter. “We also had some difficult moments (in the match), but we are very grateful to be able to play with everyone here.”

From fanboys to recognized competitors, Alas Pilipinas held their own against their favorite players, a feat they will surely cherish.