Alas opens Invitationals with 4-set win over Jakarta

MANILA, June 11 ------ The Philippines is off to a triumphant start in the 2025 Alas Pilipinas Invitationals, after Louie Ramirez sparked the national team to a four-set win against Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi at the Araneta Coliseum. The Alas Men recovered from a slim loss in the second set to claim a 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22 victory.

Ramirez starred for the Philippines with 25 points on 21 kills, three blocks and an ace, while Steve Rotter added 14 points and Buds Buddin scored 11. Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Ken Batas came off the bench in the third set to provide a late lift. "Siyempre sobrang halaga ng game na ngayon kasi napakita namin ang pinaghirapan namin sa training, at nakakuha kami ng momentum para sa mga susunod na laban," said Ramirez.

After taking the opener, the Alas Men faltered in Set 2 where they failed to hold on to a four-point lead and got dragged into an extension by Jakarta. The Indonesian squad reached set point first, 25-24, but the Philippines saved four set points and forced a 27-all tie on a Rotter crosscourt. A big hit from middle blocker Zakhid Jaya put Jakarta at set point for the fifth time, and it proved to be the charm as Ramirez committed an attack error in the next rally to gift the Indonesians the set. But the Philippines recovered quickly, leaning on a Rotter hit to win Set 3 before Batas came through in the fourth to lift Alas. From a 22-21 count, Batas scored back-to-back points -- an off-the-block hit and a rejection of Arjuna Mahendra -- to put the Philippines at match point.

Agil Angga Anggara saved a match point for Jakarta, but he sent his serve into the net to start the next rally, closing out the match in the Philippines' favor. "Lumabas 'yung eagerness ng bawat isa sa game. Naging maganda ang laro ng bawat isa," said Ramirez. Angga led Jakarta with 20 points while Arjuna added 15.

The three-day tournament serves as part of Alas Pilipinas' build-up to the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championships, which will be held in the country in September. Also competing in the invitationals are South Korea's Hyundai Capital Skywalkers and Thailand.

In the first game of the day, Thailand leaned on its net defense to turn back the South Korean squad, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21. Khonhan Amornthep scored 19 points, 12 on attacks, as the Thai national squad finished the match--organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, in one hour and 50 minutes. The 29-year-old Amornthep had four of the Thais' 14 block points, against the South Korean club's four total blocks.

Anurak Phanram scored 15 on 11 attacks, two aces and two blocks, while Kissada Nilsawai had 13 points on nine attacks, three blocks and an ace. Chaiwat Thungkham had 12 points, 11 coming from attacks. The South Korean club managed to match the Thailand squad's 49 attack points and had nine service aces against seven by the Thais. Lee Seung Jun led the Koreans with 25 points, 22 on attacks. Lee Jae Hyun came up with 17 points, scoring 13 on attacks, two blocks and two aces.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com