Alas Pilipinas star Marck Espejo. Volleyball Philippines
MANILA — Alas Pilipinas star Marck Espejo admitted the team had jitters in their first game at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
That tense manifested during Sets 1 and 2 against Tunisia, but finally found their groove in the third.
However, that confidence came a little bit later as they fell short of a comeback, losing to their African rivals, 13-25, 17-25, 23-25, on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
READ: Bagunas shines but Alas Pilipinas' FIVB Worlds debut spoiled by Tunisia
"First two sets po, medyo tense talaga 'yung game, medyo nangangapa pa kasi first time talaga makapaglaro sa ganitong big event, sa ganitong level ng volleyball pero nung third set naka-recover naman po pero 'yun nga kinulang," Espejo shared.
"Nung third set po, naging mas aggressive lang kami and kada rally po nato-toss namin 'yung atake nila kaya nai-koconvert din namin to points," he added.
"Mas nag-celebrate lang po talaga kami, nung mas nag-celebrate po kami medyo nakakuha po kami ng confidence."
READ: Veterans Bagunas, Espejo raring to represent PH after recovering from injuries
The mindset inside the court will be the difference-maker, said the "Phenom" of men's volleyball.
"Mentally ready na po talaga dapat kami (against Egypt) kasi physically, skills-wise parang pantay pantay naman po, lahat nagte-training. Pero 'yung mindset lang po talaga sa loob ng court, kung paano mo gustong manalo."
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