Alas Pilipinas Men lose steam vs. Indonesia, keep fingers crossed on Bryan Bagunas injury

Alas Pilipinas Men could not sustain their hot start, dropping a four-set clash to powerhouse Indonesia, 25-23, 19-25, 11-25, 21-25, in Leg 1 of the 2024 SEA V.League on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

But it was a double whammy for the home team as team captain Bryan Bagunas fell down with an apparent foot injury just before the match ended and they fell to a 1-1 win-loss card. 

Bagunas was a key cog against the two-time defending champion Indonesians, powering through as the nationals stole the opening set where they outclassed the opponents on the attacks, 18 to 10. 

Indonesia, which is celebrating its Independence Day today, turned to its reliables with 2023 Leg 1 MVP Fahri Putrama and Leg 2 MVP Farhan Halim conniving as they crawled back to take the next two sets, including a masterful third set that saw them unleashing an 11-0 run to pull away. 

The Filipinos, though, kept it close in the fourth but a series of errors from Alas and a strong net defense from Indonesia spelled the big difference in the fourth frame. 

Farhan delivered the game-winning point just seconds after Bagunas' service, which eventually saw the Filipino ace clutching his left knee and down on the floor.  

"Alam ko naman makaka-recover si Kuya Bryan. Knowing Kuya Bryan, madisplina siya and kaya niya 'yan. Sa lahat ng fans, 'wag kayong mag-alala kay Kuya Bryan, gagaling agad 'yan," setter Joshua Retamar said as he assures the supporters of Bagunas' comeback.   

Alas will look to bounce back on Sunday at 6 p.m. against Thailand (2-0) in bid to finish at the podium for the first time in the V.League history. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News