Philippines' Historic FIVB World Championship Journey Ends After Narrow Loss to Iran

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine men’s volleyball team, Alas Pilipinas, saw their landmark FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship run come to an end after a tight five-set loss against Iran at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday evening. The match concluded with scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, and 20-22 in favor of Iran. Despite establishing a 2-1 lead during the match, the Philippines dropped the fourth set in a close contest and ultimately could not sustain momentum in the deciding fifth set. With this defeat, the Nationals finished the preliminary round with a 1-2 record. They opened their campaign with a loss to Tunisia but made a notable comeback by upsetting Egypt in their second match. The team’s performance marked the first time the Philippines qualified and competed in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, creating a memorable chapter in the nation’s volleyball history. This exit, while disappointing, demonstrated the growth and emerging talent of Philippine volleyball on the world stage. As team captain Bryan Bagunas and his squad continue to develop, fans remain hopeful for future successes in international competitions.

Netherlands Triumphs Over Qatar in FIVB Men’s Volleyball Opener

The Netherlands began their FIVB Men’s Volleyball Championship journey with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Qatar at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The scores were 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23 in favor of the Dutch team during their preliminary round clash on Saturday. Michiel Ahyi led the Dutch charge, tallying 20 points through a combination of 14 successful attacks, three blocks, and three aces. Tom Koops contributed 17 points, while Bennie Tuinstra added 15. The Netherlands dominated the first set with relative ease, but the second set saw a more competitive battle as they narrowly edged Qatar 25-23. Qatar showed resilience in the third set, leading by three points late at 19-16 after a service error by Dutch player Nimir Abdel-Aziz Plak. However, the Dutch fought back, leveling the score at 19-all with consecutive service aces from Ahyi. This ignited a closely contested exchange between both teams, which extended into extra points. The set was eventually claimed by Qatar, 28-26, following a pivotal block by Youssef Oughlaf and an attacking mistake from Ahyi. In the fourth set, the Netherlands regained control by building an early five-point lead at 20-15, capitalizing on an error from Qatar’s Nikola Vasic. Despite a 7-3 scoring run by Qatar that narrowed the gap to 23-22, a service error by Renan Ribeiro provided the Dutch with match point. Qatar’s Pape kept his team alive momentarily, but Koops sealed the victory with a decisive attack. Additional contributions for the Netherlands came from Plak, who scored 13 points, and Cornelis Van der Ent, who added eight points, reinforcing their position as Group B leaders. Oughlaf led Qatar with 17 points, while his teammates Ribeiro and Vasic finished with 11 points each. The win marked a strong start for the Netherlands as they look to advance in the championship.

Andales Aims Higher in Light-Flyweight Rankings with Upcoming Bout Against Boca

Gen. Santos City will host an important light-flyweight showdown on September 21, 2025, as top contender AR Andales takes on seasoned fighter Jenny Boy Boca at the Sanman Boxing Gym. Andales, ranked No. 10 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 23 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), looks poised to continue his ascent in the global rankings by overcoming Boca. Since his last loss via sixth-round technical knockout to Joel Lino in 2019, the 25-year-old Andales has maintained an unbeaten streak spanning six years. During this period, he has fought ten times, securing seven victories and three draws. Notably, he has defeated former world champion Rene Mark Cuarto and held draws against ex-titleholder Joey Canoy as well as highly regarded Japanese contender Tsubasa Koura. Andales demonstrated remarkable resilience in his most recent fight against Reymark Alicaba on February 12, 2025, where despite being knocked down in the opening round, he rallied to stop Alicaba in the ninth round. Opposing him, Jenny Boy Boca brings 12 years of professional experience, having faced prominent opponents like Giemel Magramo, Muhammad Waseem, Sarawut Thawornkham, Reymart Gaballo, Dave Apolinario, and Froilan Saludar. Boca's record currently stands at 14 wins, 19 losses, and 12 knockouts, while Andales records 17 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws with 7 knockouts. In addition to the main event, the fight card will include several bouts: All Rivera will meet Ernie Sanchez (21-20-2, 12 KOs), Kevin Villanueva (6-1, 3 KOs) will compete against Jurie Micho Evangelista (2-1, 2 KOs), and Jerome Cometa (1-0) will face Ronishiel Pamplona (2-1-1, 1 KO). This event promises an exciting night for boxing fans and an opportunity for rising fighters to showcase their skills.