ALAS Pilipinas gets to put on a show for the home crowd anew this time with world ranking points and cash prizes in the Southeast Asian Men’s V.League in Candon City in Ilocos Sur from July 9 to 13.

A month after delivering sterling performances in the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals to the delight of the fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the men’s national volleyball team looks to answer the roar of the Northern crowd at the Candon City Arena.

Alas Pilipinas, twice bronze medalist in the 2024 SEA V.League, eyes a big share of the $55,000 (P3.15 million) prize pool as it seeks a higher spot on the podium this time against a bigger field.

Cambodia has joined two-leg champion Thailand, runners-up Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in the region’s top flight.

The Cambodians earned promotion by topping the 2024 SEA V. League Challenge featuring the Malaysia, Laos and Singapore national teams, according to Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the organizing Philippine National Volleyball Federation and Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Alas Pilipinas will be coming off a stint in the 11-nation Asian Volleyball Confederation Men’s Nations Cup in Bahrain eager to gain ranking points and some boost in morale as they continue the buildup for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship the country is hosting from September 12 to 28.

The champion gets $13,000 (around P743,000) and the runner-up $12,000 (P686,000) in the SEA V.League Candon City is hosting through Mayor Eric Singson and backed by mWell, ⁠Cignal, ⁠PLDT, ⁠Rebisco, ⁠Akari, Philippine Sports Commission, ⁠Philippine Olympic Committee, Mikasa and Asics.

The bronze medalists will receive $11,000, the fourth placers $10,000 and the fifth placers $9,000 in the tournament where the Philippines very own—Marck Espejo, Steve Rotter and Owa Retamar—will showcase their wares, including the game that stunned Thailand in five sets in the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals.

The Thais got back at the Filipinos with a straight-sets win in the AVC Men’s Nations Cup in Bahrain with a grudge match boiling in the Sea V.League