Alas Pilipinas Men head coach Angiolino Frigoni has offered his insights on how to improve further the volleyball program of the Philippines.
As Philippine volleyball gets entangled in yet another mess—after Bryan Bagunas exposed the Alas Men's "financial struggles" at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026—Frigoni went to talk with the national team captain on how to level up the sport and correct its direction.
For Frigoni, there is a dire need for the program to tap and develop young talents through under-18 and under-21 programs, where they will train young bloods who would eventually take up the Philippine mantle on the international stage.
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“Na-open up niya [coach Angiolino Frigoni] lang sa akin na kailangan magsimula talaga sa mga bata. So ano, kailangan talaga ‘yung mayroong under-21 tayo, under-18 sa Pilipinas, so para mas tumaas ‘yung level, para mas nahahasa sila bata pa lang, then bago pumasok sa national team,” said Bagunas, relying the wisdom of the Italian mentor, on Tuesday.
Frigoni, as Bagunas shared, sees the potential not just of the Philippines, but our neighbors as well.
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With adequate preparation, the country can elevate its game on the international stage.
Currently, the Alas Men have been eliminated from medal contention in the Asian Games. Although they had time to practice locally, lack of financial support hindered the squad from training and reaching its full potential for the continental meet, as Bagunas recently publicized.
“Nasabi niya [Frigoni] rin sa akin na kailangan, maganda rin talaga preparation kasi not only the Philippines daw, kasi kahit ‘yung sa Southeast Asia, basta may magandang preparation is lalaban talaga. Parang mataas na ‘yung level eh. So kailangan lang ng magandang preparation to compete. Hindi ‘yung like two months, three months before that tournament lang,” said Bagunas.
Before handling the Alas Men, Frigoni had an extensive experience of coaching, having supervised the Italy U21 team, the Egyptian men’s national team, women’s squads of Italy and Netherlands, and several other volleyball clubs.
Under Frigoni, the Filipino spikers almost reached the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.