Alas Pilipinas’ Louie Ramirez and Steve Rotter during the three-day Invitationals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Louie Ramirez led Alas Pilipinas to an emphatic start in the three-day Invitationals, stunning the Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22, on Tuesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ramirez showed what he’s capable of with less than 100 days remaining before their historic hosting and participation in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, dropping 25 points off 21 kills, three blocks, and an ace against the back-to-back Proliga champion.
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“Our mindset is just to play the way Coach Angiolino wants us to. We’ve been working so hard every single day in training, so we want to show what he’s been trying to teach us and bring that to the game,” said Ramirez in Filipino.
Besides the former NCAA MVP out of Perpetual Help, Ken Batas also came to save the day with his three points coming in the clutch late in the fourth set after Buds Buddin suffered from cramps.
Batas scored right from his entry, giving Alas an 18-16 breather before the Indonesians tied it at 19-all.
The UAAP MVP from Ateneo drilled an off-the-block attack and clutch block to reach match point, 24-20, before a service error from Jakarta.
Steven Rotter also stepped up with 14 points. Buddin chipped in 11 points including three blocks, while Peng Taguibolos added eight points. Setter Owa Retamar paced the squad, while libero Josh Ybañez protected the floor.
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“A win is always better than a loss. For us, these matches show what we have to improve more,” said Alas coach Angiolino Frigoni. “It really doesn’t matter very [much] if you win or lose these matches. It’s important for us to understand what we have to practice more. But of course, we are happy to win.”
Ramirez delivered right in the opening set as substitute setter and national team debutant Eco Adajar paced Leo Ordiales for a strong kill for a 22-20 lead.
The Indonesians’ errors put Alas at set point, 24-22, before Agil Anggara stopped the bleeding. Steven Rotter drilled the set-clinching cross-court hit to draw the first blood.
Alas squandered a 20-17 lead in the second set, but saved four set points through Ramirez and Rotter’s resilience only to fall short as Jakarta tied the game to one set apiece.
Ramirez and Rotter sustained their momentum in the third, pulling away with a 21-14 spread and never looking back for a 2-1 advantage.
Anggara’s 20-point explosion went for naught after dropping their first game. Arjuna Mahendra and Rendy Tamamilang had 15 and 12 points, respectively.
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Meanwhile, Thailand national team unleashed a collective effort led by Amornthep Konhan’s 19-point explosion off 12 kills, four blocks, and three aces to beat Korea’s Hyundai Capital Skywalkers, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21.
Anurak Phanram was also instrumental with 15 points, while Kissada Nilsawai and Chaiwat Thungkam added 13 and 12, respectively, to win their first game before facing the Indonesian club on Wednesday.
Lee Jun Seung’s 25-point effort went for naught, while Lee Jae hyun added 17.
Hyundai coach Fabio Storti is looking forward to facing Alas Pilipinas, under his fellow Italian Frigoni.
“He told me about his experience here in the Philippines and he’s absolutely positive. He’s welcoming the challenge this year ahead of the World Championship. I wish him and the whole Philippines team the best,” said Storti.
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“I expect tomorrow that our match will be similar like this [against Thailand]. I can talk about my team because my team is pretty young guys and they don’t have so much experience because during our season, they didn’t play so much. That’s why we came here to get experience.”
