MARCK Espejo, a veteran of Alas Pilipinas men like Bryan Bagunas, fell prey to an ankle injury but has since recovered and is catching up in the team’s three-country European training camp that’s in its final leg in Portugal.
“I’m taking it day by day, training by training, as I work to catch up with the team after coming back from injury,” Espejo said from their training camp in Santo Tirso, a city in northern Portugal, on Monday.
Espejo, 28, and Bagunas, 27, have recovered from their injuries and are now jelling with the team—a mix of young and veteran players—since training camp kicked off in Morocco and proceeded to Romania before wrapping up in Portugal.
Alas Pilipinas, now ranked No. 77 in the world, won two of three tune-up matches against the national team of world No. 81 Morocco and yielded—but not without gaining a set—to the Romanian national squad.
These are potential signs that Alas Pilipinas is nearing its mission in the training camp aimed at a strong performance in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship set Sept. 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s a well-balanced team for long-term growth,” Espejo said. “We have experienced veterans and kuyas who provide leadership, and younger players with fresh legs and a lot of energy.”
The 32-nation FIVB world championship is one tough competition and Espejo knows that well.
“I will take this challenge seriously and give my very best,” he said. “But I’m excited, right now we’re focused on bringing out the team’s full potential. We’re enjoying the camp, playing against top teams, and learning a lot.”
Espejo, like the entire Alas Pilipinas squad, would love to see Filipino fans cheering for them come game time—as well as to witness first-hand world-class volleyball action.
Tickets to the world championship are available online via the official website at www.philippineswch2025.com.
Handled by decorated Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, Alas Pilipinas opens action against Tunisia on Sept. 12 at the SM MOA Arena, after which a first in FIVB world championships history—volleyball and beach—an electrifying opening ceremony featuring popular K-pop group Boynextdoor and the country’s very own, Cebu pride Karencitta, will be regaling the fans.
The well-travelled Espejo, besides being a certified superstar in the UAAP, did the rounds in Asia—Japan (Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler and FC Tokyo), Thailand (Visakha) and Korea (champion team Incheon Korean Air Jumbos)—and owns a silver medal from the Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
But playing for flag and country, he said, won’t compare with his foreign sorties.
