That is AI generated summarization, which can have errors. For context, at all times discuss with the total article.
Beforehand a foot out the door of the Philippine males’s volleyball staff earlier than age 30, Alas Pilipinas ace Marck Espejo now revels within the Philippines’ historic internet hosting of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Males’s World Championship
MANILA, Philippines – Up to now decade, Marck Espejo grew synonymous with the Philippine males’s volleyball staff — rechristened as Alas Pilipinas simply in time for a interval of historic progress within the sport’s native scene.
By means of the highs and lows, the previous Ateneo famous person was there, spearheading the trigger no matter outcomes, at all times hoping to someday make sufficient of a distinction and construct a memorable legacy when it’s all stated and carried out.
Following the Philippines’ first-ever match within the FIVB Volleyball Males’s World Championship — a promising straight-sets loss towards world No. 40 Tunisia — Espejo turned nostalgic and emotional because the landmark match coincided along with his tenth yr with the nationwide staff.
“I didn’t assume I’d get this far. I feel the very best match I aspired for was the Asian Video games and that was it, I’d retire from the nationwide staff,” the 28-year-old native icon stated in Filipino. “However now the World Championship is right here within the Philippines for the primary time ever and I’m so blissful.”
“I’m blissful that I’m nonetheless considerably wholesome after 10 years with the staff. I stated that so long as I’m wholesome and I’d get a name for the nationwide staff, I’d go and carry out.”
Three months faraway from an ankle damage that sidelined him for the reason that Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup final June, Espejo went for a good 9 factors towards the formidable Tunisians, whereas his partner-in-crime Bryan Bagunas — additionally a serious damage returnee — dropped 23 huge markers.
Having constantly preached that the 2025 World Championship is a weeklong expertise harvest and never a title-or-bust marketing campaign, Espejo is taking losses in stride so long as he and his teammates present respectable effort and, most significantly, study firsthand from the very best on the earth.
“We should be mentally able to go towards Egypt in our subsequent match as a result of, bodily and skills-wise, I feel all of us prepare for a similar issues. It’s actually the mindset and the need to win that units the very best groups other than the remainder.”
One other loss on Tuesday, September 16, this time towards the world No. 23 Egyptians, implies that the Philippines quickly faces the brink of elimination within the pool part, whereas world No. 13 Iran can be extensively anticipated to dominate the host nation on Thursday, September 18.
However for Espejo and the remainder of Alas, the World Championship debut was by no means about counting wins or losses, however merely remembering to reside within the second in what could very properly be a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. – Rappler.com
