The trio of Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, and Owa Retamar – the three who were part of the history that won the silver medal for the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games – are now back together in the national team for the upcoming 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Championship.

Bagunas will serve as the team captain and will be one of the outside hitters alongside Espejo, Buds Buddin, Jade Disquitado, and Vince Lorenzo, who will be the service specialist of the team.

Retamar will be the primary setter of the team, with former De La Salle University Green Archers standout Eco Adajar as his deputy. In contrast, Leo Ordiales and Louie Ramirez will share the opposite spot.

For the middle attackers and blockers, Kim Malabunga, Peng Taguibolos, and Lloyd Josafat will help each other in stopping the attacks of the opponents. At the same time, Josh Ybañez and Jack Kalingking will sweep the backline.

Here’s a closer look at the team’s composition.

Outside Hitters: Bagunas, Espejo, Buddin, Disquitado, Lorenzo

Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo are considered to be the one-two punch of the Philippine men’s national team. The two shared the outside hitter spots when the team won the historic silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

Both Bagunas and Espejo have a championship attitude in their DNA, since they were still playing in the UAAP for the National University Bulldogs and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, respectively.

Buds Buddin and Jade Disquitado are the young guns in the squad. Also, longtime members of the national team, Buddin and Disquitado, are the players whom coach Angiolino Frigoni will call if the team needs fresh legs in the match.

Lastly, Vince Lorenzo played libero for the professional team Cignal HD Spikers, but for this tournament, he will be the service specialist of the team.

Opposite Hitters: Ordiales, Ramirez

National University Bulldogs Leo Ordiales and University of Perpetual Help Altas alum Louie Ramirez will share the playing time for the opposite spot.

Ordiales has been the backup opposite spiker for the national team, but it’s his time to shine now that Filipino-American Steve Rotter was not included in the lineup.

Ramirez has also been part of the lineup for quite some time now, and he’ll provide steady support for Ordiales.

Setters: Retamar, Adajar

Longtime national team setter Owa Retamar will also once again orchestrate the offense of the Alas Pilipinas men’s national team. A multi-awarded setter, Retamar has already made it known that he’s one of the best, if not the best, setters in the Philippines.

Backing up Retamar in the setting position is former De La Salle University Green Spikers setter Eco Adajar, known for being nonchalant. In previous tournaments, Retamar and Adajar worked together and had each other’s backs.

Middle Blockers: Malabunga, Taguibolos, Josafat

Kim Malabunga, Peng Taguibolos, and Lloyd Josafat will share the time guarding the net against the other teams’ hitters. Three had shared the same middle blocker position at the SEA Men’s V.League earlier this year.

Malabunga won two bronze medals in the 2024 SEA Men’s V.League and was even awarded as one of the Best Middle Blockers. On the other hand, Taguibolos is the youngest of the three but the tallest in the team at 6’6. Lastly, Josafat has already won four gold medals in several domestic leagues.

Libero: Ybañez, Kalingking

Once again, Josh Ybañez of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers will be the primary libero of the team after his spectacular performance in several international tournaments before.

After taking a short hiatus, Jack Kalingking will once again don the country’s logos as he plays backup to Ybañez.