Alas Pilipinas Men and the Mall of Asia crowd celebrate as the national team appear to have defeated Iran at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, but a successful net fault challenge took away all of that. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Filipinos will never forget the crowning moment of the Miss Universe 2015 pageant -- when host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner before correcting himself and declaring the Philippines' Pia Wurtzbach as the true queen.
Veteran volleyball star Marck Espejo recalled that incident on Thursday night, during one of the most memorable -- and painful -- moments of his career.
Alas Pilipinas Men almost had their winning moment at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, as the national team, the Mall of Asia crowd, and those who watched from their homes already celebrated when Kim Malabunga seemed to have clinched the match for the Philippines with a kill block against Iran for a 20-18 win in an extended fifth set.
However, a net fault call off a successful challenge by Team Iran abruptly ended the joyous moment, which had lasted for seconds, gifting a point and the critical momentum to the visitors, 19-all.
READ: FIVB Worlds: Heartbreaker as gallant Alas Pilipinas Men fall to higher-ranked Iran
That was when the Philippines' dreams of advancing to the Final 16 ended, as Alas Men ultimately absorbed a painful 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-22 defeat at the hands of the Iranians.
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Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
“Nangyayari po talaga ‘yun, sa Miss Universe nga po eh,” Espejo said.
But when he got serious, the "Phenom" said he remains proud of the squad, as they have proven that they could compete with the best men's volleyball teams in the globe.
READ: FIVB Worlds: Kim Malabunga owns up to costly net fault -- 'Sorry, sa akin'
"Kidding aside po, both teams gusto manalo," he said. "Talagang hindi lang po pinalad. Pero masaya pa rin po ako, proud sa sarili namin, sa team."
Teary-eyed, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle reflected on the heartbreak.
"Sayang po kasi akala namin sa 'tin na, pero sayang lang po talaga," said Espejo, who dropped 15 points on 12 attacks and four blocks, supplementing the Alas scoring.
— with a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News
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