Kim Malabunga and Owa Retamar in action during Set 1 of Alas Pilipinas' match against Iran at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, September 18, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — A 14,000-strong crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena was already celebrating after Kim Malabunga appeared to have scored a kill block to win Alas Pilipinas' match against Iran in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
The Philippines was ahead 19-18, and Malabunga's rejection was set to be the match-winner that would send the Alas Men to the tournament's round-of-16.
But as it turned out, the moment instead became one of the biggest "what ifs" in Philippine sports, as Iran challenged the play for a net fault.
Replays showed that Malabunga grazed the net on his way down, and the match resumed after the Alas Men and Filipino fans had already celebrated.
READ: FIVB Worlds: Heartbreaker as gallant Alas Pilipinas Men fall to higher-ranked Iran
That moment proved pivotal as the Iranians rallied their way to the Round of 16, with Alas Men absorbing the painful loss in the five-set marathon, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-22, on Thursday at the Pasay City venue.
Malabunga owned up to the mistake, even as he and the entire Alas team fought their hearts out in front of their Pinoy fans.
READ: Bagunas on Alas heartbreak: 'Sobrang masakit, kasi nando'n na po kami'
"Hindi ko ma-explain, kasi sobrang nada-down ako e. Akin 'yun, eh dapat panalo na 'yun, kaso na-out of balance pa ako. Sorry, sa akin," Malabunga said.
The 29-year-old middle blocker found the silver lining, saying that they showed their progress—years of hard work resulting in this very moment.
In the prestigious 32-nation tournament, Alas Men proved they could compete with the best men's volleyball teams in the globe.
"Masasabi ko lang, masaya pa din. Masaya na malungkot [na] nakikita ko mga coaches and teammates ko, masaya naman sila sa naging resulta ng game kasi 'yung mga pinaghirapan namin nung nakaraang taon, lumabas sa game na ito," said Malabunga. "Masaya naman ako, pero sobrang nanghihinayang."
Malabunga saw the difference of the national team program, then from now—and he's here to see what the future holds for them.
"Masasabi ko lang, sobrang laki ng iaangat ng men’s volleyball kasi nakita naman 'yung resulta e. Hindi naman tayo basta-basta bumigay sa game, 'yung last two games namin, lumabas talaga 'yung pinaghirapan namin nung nakaraang taon."