THE PHILIPPINES etched its name in international volleyball history after Alas Pilipinas pulled off a stunning victory against African powerhouse Egypt in the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ranked 89th in the world and considered underdogs, the Filipinos delivered a performance for the ages, toppling world No. 21 and reigning African champion Egypt in four sets, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, before a raucous home crowd.

Bryan Bagunas spearheaded the charge with 25 points, capping his night with clutch attacks that pushed the team to match point. Marck Espejo then sealed the win with a decisive block, sparking celebrations in the arena.

Leo Ordiales bounced back from a shaky debut against Tunisia, contributing 21 points, while Espejo added 13. Kim Malabunga and Lloyd Josafat also made key defensive stops that swung momentum in favor of the hosts.

Josafat registered back-to-back blocks in the fourth set to give Alas a 17-14 cushion, before Ordiales widened the lead to 22-19. From there, the Filipinos never looked back.

It was a night of firsts for the national squad: not only did Alas Pilipinas clinch its maiden match victory at the World Championship, but it also secured its first set win in the prestigious tournament. The breakthrough came in the opening frame when the team erased a 26-27 deficit, highlighted by a Bagunas rescue attack, a Malabunga block, and an ace from Ordiales to close out the set.

The win created a four-way logjam in Pool A with the Philippines, Egypt, Tunisia, and Iran all holding 1-1 records. Alas now faces another crucial test on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against Iran, with a chance to advance to the next round.