Manila: The Philippines triumphed over Myanmar with a straight-sets victory of 25-21, 28-26, 25-22 on Saturday, securing fifth place in the SEA Men's V Cup held at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur. The match concluded a challenging tournament for the Philippines, who went winless in pool play but managed to end on a high note.
According to Philippines News Agency, Louie Ramirez led Alas Pilipinas with an impressive performance, scoring 14 points through 11 attacks and three blocks. Ramirez, who participated in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup, showcased his skills despite the team's early setbacks. Joshua Magalaman also made a significant contribution with 12 points, marking his third consecutive match with double-digit scores in this FIVB world ranking points event.
Coach Angiolino Frigoni praised the team, which was assembled just two months prior, for their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Despite falling behind early by as many as six points, the Philippines managed to take control late in the opening set, securing it in 26 minutes.
Throughout the match, Alas Pilipinas faced tough resistance from Myanmar, a team still unranked within the FIVB's top-125 countries. Myanmar, participating in the tournament for the first time, remained competitive but ultimately finished winless after three matches. Key players for Myanmar included Kyaw Aung Myo, who scored 16 points, and Aung Ye Lin, who contributed 12 points.
In other tournament developments, the Asian Volleyball Confederation Men's Cup champion Indonesia and Vietnam were set to face each other, while Thailand and Cambodia competed for a spot in the finals as of press time. Indonesia and Vietnam's clash was scheduled for 8 p.m.
