Alas Pilipinas could face tall order vs towering Egypt

Buds Buddin on the floor for Alas Pilipinas during the Invitationals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Egypt banks on the towering troika of Abdallah Abdalsalam Ahmed Bakhit, Mohamed Asran, and Abdelrahman Seoudy when it faces Alas Pilipinas and other Pool A teams in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 starting on September 12 at Mall of Asia Arena.

After making its World Championship debut against Tunisia on September 12, Alas battles African world champion Egypt on September 16 at 5:30 p.m.

READ: Alas Pilipinas’ first foe Tunisia to miss star Wassim Ben Tara

Egypt is a nine-time African champion and the lone representative of the continent in the Paris Olympics 2024, where it finished 12th.

The Pharaohs also won bronze in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup last year.

Their three main players, the 6-foot-6 star setter Ahmed Bakhit, 6-foot-3 outside hitter Asran, and 6-foot-8 middle blocker Seoudy seek to surpass their team’s 19th-place finish in the 2022 World Championship co-hosted by Poland and Slovenia.

Egypt opens its campaign against Iran on September 14. Tickets are available via the official website https://www.philippineswch2025.com/.

READ: Alas’ Marck Espejo vows to give all for FIVB World spot

World No. 23 Egypt wraps up its pool stage campaign against fellow African squad Tunisia on September 18. They are two of three African countries in the worlds with Algeria in Pool F.

Egypt is handled by 61-year-old Italian coach Marco Bonitta, who boasts multiple international titles highlighted by a gold medal for Italy in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Germany.

 And he will also lean on Opposite hitter Reda Haikal and outside hitter Ahmed Azabwere in the 33-nation tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) headed by president Tats Suzara, who is also the president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.