Alas Pilipinas aim to carry their momentum to Leg 2 of the SEA V.League, set from August 23-25 in Indonesia.
Just scratching the surface.
For Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, Alas Pilipinas' first-ever podium finish in the SEA V.League is a good start for the retooled men’s national team program.
“It is a better start [to have a] bronze medal than start without a medal. But for me, we are just starting, we only played in this competition this year and to have a bronze medal in this competition is something good, and it’s something better than we don’t get it,” Frigoni spoke in the aftermath of the Philippine men's national volleyball team's straight-set setback against Thailand.
[ALSO READ: Sans Bryan Bagunas, Alas Pilipinas Men take SEA V.League bronze despite loss to Thailand]
Despite the loss, Alas Pilipinas came out of the four-nation tournament with a bronze, finishing behind champion Thailand and first-runner up Indonesia.
However, the two-time Olympic coach quickly shifted his sights on how to improve the team. And this time, he's setting much higher expectations heading to the second leg of the tournament and the rest of the year.
“But I am not thinking of the bronze, I am thinking of how to improve this team. To play in the next competition better together, and a better goal,” Frigoni stressed.
A veteran international coach, the predecessor of Sergio Veloso admitted that Alas “is still very far from a high level” with a year left before the country hosts the 2025 FIVB World Championship.
"I say that we work pretty good... fighting. I want this team [they are] fighting. We are not on the other level now, okay? Right now? No. If we fight and [even if] we make stupid mistakes, means... stupid mistakes are a little bit difficult to say in volleyball because they are just mistakes. At least we were trying."
[ALSO READ:New coach Angiolino Frigoni makes honest assessment of Alas Pilipinas Men after nabbing first victory in SEA V.League]
The 70-year-old tactician also added that more than the skills, Alas Pilipinas need to develop mental toughness and endurance through competing in future tournaments.
“It is very difficult for these players to stay for three sets with the same intensity in the first set. They need experience.”
“We played with a very young team, even when (Bryan) Bagunas was here, the oldest one is the middle blocker (Kim Malabunga). So, we need time. I don’t know if we will have enough time before the world championships, at least I want them to improve.”
“We need more matches like this, matches like this to start and [build] this kind of endurance. Mental endurance is like physical endurance… We don’t have this endurance right now for one or the other.”
The Nationals started off the 2024 SEA V.League on a high, besting Vietnam before dropping their last two games.
However, team captain Bryan Bagunas suffered an injury scare in the closing moments of Team Philippines’ straight-set defeat of Indonesia last Saturday, August 17.
[ALSO READ: Alas Pilipinas Men rally behind 'heart and soul' Bryan Bagunas]
Bagunas’ availability in Leg 2 of the SEA V.League, which will be held from August 23-25 in Indonesia, is still up in the air.