Alas Pilipinas Men Put Up a Valiant Fight but Fall to Osaka Bluteon

The Philippine national men's volleyball team, Alas Pilipinas, put up a commendable performance but ultimately fell short against the visiting Osaka Bluteon in an exhibition match on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Despite a closely contested first set, the hometown team eventually succumbed to the powerful offense led by Yuji Nishida.

Nishida, the star spiker for Osaka, dominated the match with 15 points, including 14 attacks and one ace. American spiker Thomas John Jaeschke also contributed significantly with 10 points. For Alas Pilipinas, Jade Disquitado and Michaelo Buddin led the team with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Reflecting on the match, Buddin expressed confidence in the team's performance, attributing their improved play to the guidance of coach Angiolino Frigoni. He noted that the team's adherence to the coach's system played a crucial role in their competitive showing against the Japanese powerhouse.

However, Buddin also acknowledged that the team's confidence and passing struggled in the third set, leading to their eventual defeat. He emphasized that the entire team contributed to the outcome of the match, and that the lapse in the third set was a factor in their loss.

Alas Pilipinas will have another opportunity to face Osaka Bluteon on Sunday at the same venue. Nishida expressed hope that the Philippine team would be able to elevate their level of play in the next match. The exhibition matches are part of the year-long countdown to the historic staging of the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championships in the Philippines.