All news tagged JoshYbañez

The wait is over.

After two tough losses, the Alas Pilipinas Men finally broke through at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Uzbekistan in four sets in their classification match to put their first win on the board.

It was a victory built on persistence — the kind of result that can change the tone of a campaign that had started with frustration.

The Filipino side refused to let another opportunity slip away, fighting through four sets against Uzbekistan and finally getting the breakthrough it had been chasing.

For Alas Pilipinas, the win is more than just another entry in the standings. It is a much-needed reward for staying in the fight after a difficult start to the Asian Games campaign.

The men’s squad now carries that momentum into the remainder of the classification round, with another opportunity to finish the tournament on a high.

Two losses. One breakthrough. And finally, a win for Alas Pilipinas Men. 🇵🇭🔥

The campaign continues — and now, the Philippines has something to build on.

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘’𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠? 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗔! 

Alas Pilipinas Men return to action in the 2026 Asian Games classification round, facing familiar Southeast Asian rival Indonesia as they look to finally break through against a team that has already beaten them twice this year.

The Nationals finished at the bottom of Pool D after falling to Korea, China, and Chinese Taipei. After being swept in their first two matches, Alas managed to take a set from Chinese Taipei in their final preliminary-round assignment.

Indonesia also had a difficult group stage, finishing with a 1-2 record. The Indonesians pushed both Thailand and Iran to five sets before falling short, while their lone win came against Kyrgyzstan in straight sets.

Now, the rivalry gets another chapter.

Thursday’s clash marks the third meeting between the Philippines and Indonesia this year. Indonesia swept Alas in the opening leg of the SEA V.Cup in July before taking a four-set victory in the second leg.

For Alas Men, there is no need for extra motivation.

Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Joshua Magalaman, and Owa Retamar will be among those expected to lead the charge as the Nationals hunt for a much-needed breakthrough in Aichi-Nagoya.

They’ve seen Indonesia before.

They know what went wrong.

NOW, ALAS MEN GET ONE MORE SHOT TO CHANGE THE STORY.

University of Santo Tomas–Gameville standout Josh Ybañez continues to prove why he’s one of the brightest young stars in Philippine volleyball. The versatile open spiker was named the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of November 5 to 7, after leading the Golden Spikers to a gutsy five-set victory over Alpha Insurance Protectors.

Ybañez delivered a brilliant all-around performance in UST-Gameville’s thrilling 26-24, 25-22, 35-37, 19-25, 22-20 win last Friday, November 7, tallying 20 points on 18 attacks, one block, and one ace, along with an impressive 30 excellent receptions. 

His composure and consistency were key in helping the collegiate squad hold its ground against veteran opposition in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.

The Alas Pilipinas standout has been a driving force behind UST-Gameville’s strong campaign, guiding the Golden Spikers to a 3-1 win-loss record despite joining the tournament as a late replacement. His leadership and relentless energy on both offense and defense have made him the heart of the young team’s surprising success.

Ybañez was a unanimous choice for the weekly citation, edging out his UST-Gameville teammates Al-Bukharie Sali and Edriel Alabar, along with other top performers such as Cignal’s Jay Rack Dela Noche, Criss Cross’ Jude Garcia and Noel Kampton, and Savouge’s Sherwin Caritativo.

The award marks another milestone for the 21-year-old rising star, who continues to impress fans and analysts alike with his maturity, work ethic, and all-around play. As UST-Gameville gears up to face defending champion Cignal HD Spikers in their next match, Ybañez remains focused on leading by example.

From collegiate standout to national team mainstay, Josh Ybañez’s latest recognition reaffirms his growing status as one of the future pillars of Philippine men’s volleyball.

Egypt head coach Marco Bonitta lauded Alas Pilipinas after the hosts’ stunning four-set victory over the reigning African champions in the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The three-time Olympian admitted that his squad did not play at its usual level but emphasized that the Filipinos fully deserved their historic triumph.

“First of all, congratulations to the Philippine team because they played one amazing, consistent match, especially on serve, blocking, and defense,” Bonitta said. “They had clear options in transition, especially in attack after defense. They deserve to win. Today wasn’t our best level of volleyball. We will try to do our best after tomorrow because we have to win against Tunisia.”

Bonitta noted that he was not entirely surprised by the performance of the Angiolino Frigoni-coached Nationals, pointing to their gritty showing against Tunisia in their opening match as an early sign of their potential.

“Philippines played amazing match today but we knew that before,” he said. “The level of this team was the third set against Tunisia and they lost only 25-23. We knew that we had to be patient to play—but they played better than us and they deserve it.”

Despite the loss, world No. 22 Egypt remains in contention for a Round of 16 berth, with all four Pool A squads holding identical 1-1 records. The Egyptians now prepare for a crucial showdown with Tunisia on Thursday, September 18.

Bonitta stressed the importance of his team resetting both mentally and physically ahead of the decisive clash.

From supposed token participants to giant slayers, Alas Pilipinas delivered a performance that forever etched their place in the country’s sporting history.

On a magical Tuesday night, the 82nd-ranked Nationals shocked the volleyball world, stunning African champions and world No. 21 Egypt with a 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 victory at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

What was once thought impossible—winning even a set against the world’s top teams—turned into a breakthrough triumph that shook Pool A standings and gave the Filipinos (1-1) a fighting chance to reach the Round of 16.

“This is history, and I am so proud to be part of it,” said Bryan Bagunas, who spearheaded the attack with 25 points on 23 kills. “We came into this game with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality, but we showed what we are made of. It’s just a proud moment for us and the country.”

Bagunas found support from Marck Espejo and Leo Ordiales, who atoned for his tough debut against Tunisia with 21 points in the bounce-back win. Espejo capped his 13-point performance with the game-winning block that sealed the victory.

“It was all instinct on my part,” Espejo said in Filipino. “After we won the first set, I felt that it was already an achievement. But we knew we could still do better.”

For Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, the victory was more than just a number in the standings.

“I am very happy—not because we won, but because we were able to show that we can play well on this stage. They gave us an opportunity to win the match and we took it,” he said.

The win sets up a pivotal clash with world No. 16 Iran on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena. Iran, Asia’s top-ranked squad, is coming off a rebound victory over Tunisia but had previously lost to Egypt—making the duel against the Philippines even more intriguing.

From doubted hosts to history-makers, Alas Pilipinas has proven it belongs among the world’s best—and now, the dream of advancing is suddenly within reach.

Libero Josh Ybañez refuses to guarantee results but promises heart as Alas Pilipinas prepares to battle Egypt at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship this afternoon at MOA Arena.  

The 22-year-old defensive stalwart admires Egypt’s composure and discipline, calling their recent win over Iran a standard to aspire to.

“They played really well, very organized and disciplined,” Ybañez said in Filipino, describing Egypt’s win. “What really stood out to me was their composure under pressure and how consistent they were with their execution. It was a big learning experience for us, because that’s the kind of standard we want to reach, too.”

Last Friday, the Philippines, coming off a spirited late rally against Tunisia in its World Championship debut, looks to build on lessons learned as it faces the world No. 18 squad. 

“We learned a lot from our first game, especially on the defensive side. It gave us more confidence that we can keep up. For the second game, we’ll bring that same energy and hopefully, we can apply the coaches’ adjustments even better.” Ybanez said. 

Ybañez, a two-time UAAP MVP now anchoring the national team’s defense, believes composure and grit will be key. Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni will again rely on Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, and Owa Retamar to lead the charge.

“Our mindset is simple: fight with all our heart and give everything we’ve got. What we can promise is that we’ll do everything to prove we’re worthy to carry the Philippine flag and represent the country on this stage.” Ybañez added,