The Alas Pilipinas men's national volleyball team. Handout/AVC
The Alas Pilipinas men's national volleyball team absorbed a four-set loss to Pakistan in their first game of the AVC Men's Nations Cup, Tuesday night in Manama, Bahrain.
Pakistan recovered from a letdown in Set 3 to take care of business against the Philippines, 25-18, 25-12, 18-25, 25-22.
Leo Ordiales led Alas with 22 points built on 15 kills, five blocks, and two aces while Buds Buddin and Steven Rotter each had 10 points.
Making the loss more costly for the Philippines was the apparent left ankle injury suffered by veteran spiker Marck Espejo in the first frame.
Even with Espejo on the bench, Alas put up a fight particularly in the third set, where Ordiales came alive to keep the Philippines in the hunt.
They ran out of steam in the fourth set, however, with Pakistan making the key plays down the stretch and Alas committing an unfortunate error that handed their opponents the win.
Alas Pilipinas will return to action on Wednesday against Chinese Taipei.