FROM the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City where the country impressed with a unique celebration of the World Volleyball Day on Monday night, action shifts to the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur where the five-nation Southeast Asian Men’s V.League kicks off on Wednesday (July 9).

Members of the Alas Pilipinas Women, their official Fans Club members and officials and members of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) led by vice president Ricky Palou and secretary-general Don Caringal and the Local Organizing Committee for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Philippines 2025 were on hand for the global celebration that happened for only the first time in the country.

“It was an amazing celebration by our very own PNVF and the LOC for the world championship and this impressed the FIVB leadership,” said PNVF Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who’s in Surabaya in an official function as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Alas Pilipinas, meanwhile, eyes medals and ranking points while putting on a show for the home crowd as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia look to steal the spotlight in the SEA Men’s V.League in Candon City.

Fil-am Steve Rotter sees action for Alas Pilipinas in the region’s top-flight volleyball competition, a boost for the Philippine team that lost Bryan Bagunas to injury but earned two bronze medals.

Back with the Angiolino Frigoni-coached squad are Kim Malabunga, Owa Retamar, Peng Taguibolos, Louie Ramirez and Buds Buddin as fans at the Candon City Arena get to see up close the Philippine team that is preparing for the world championship.

The fight for the ranking points and the champion’s cheque of $13,000 (around P743,000) from the prize pot of $55,000 (P3.15 million) will be tight, with Thailand, which swept the two SEA V.League gold medals last year, bringing back Amornthep Khonhan, Anurak Phanram, Kissada Nilsawai and Chaiwat Thungkham from the AVC Nations Cup.

The runner-up will earn $12,000 (P686,000), the bronze medalists will receive $11,000, the fourth placers $10,000 and the fifth placers $9,000 in the tournament backed by PNVF official partners PLDT, Mwell, Meralco, ⁠Rebisco, Akari and Nuvali, PNVF official suppliers Asics, Senoh and ⁠Mikasa, official television partner Cignal, and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, ⁠Philippine Olympic Committee and the City of Candon headed by Mayor Eric Singson.

Alas Pilipinas went 3-0 in the Alas Invitationals to the delight of the home crowd at the Araneta Coliseum last month, but it was a tough stint for the Filipinos and even Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand in the AVC Nations Cup in Bahrain.

The Philippines and Thailand went winless in pool play before clashing in the Nations Cup classification, where the Thais gained a measure of revenge after their loss to Alas Pilipinas in the Invitationals.

Indonesia and Vietnam reached the quarterfinals but were turned back by Pakistan and Qatar, respectively.

Hendra Kurniawan and Farhan Halim, who led the Indonesians in a thrilling five-set win over Thailand in pool play in Bahrain, are set to see action in Candon along with Doni Hayrono and Rivan Nurmulki as they try to improve on their two silver medals last season.

Vietnam, meanwhile, look to seize a podium spot after placing fourth twice last season, and will lean on its AVC stars Van Quoc Duy, T.D. Tuyen and Ngoc Thuan.

Cambodia earned promotion by topping the 2024 SEA V. League Challenge featuring the Malaysia, Laos and Singapore national teams.