Alas Pilipinas Men. Photo from PNVF

MANILA – Alas Pilipinas Men will be facing tough adversaries in Pool A of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.

The Philippines, automatically placed in the pool as host country, was grouped with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in first round of the world championship following the conclusion of the drawing of lots on Saturday at Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.

The Tunisia men's national volleyball team, 24th in the world rankings, is an 11-time African Championship winner, while the World No. 20 Egypt men's national volleyball team is also a nine-time continental champion.

READ: PH gears up for hosting of 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship

Meanwhile, the World No. 15 Iran men's national volleyball team is the runner-up of 2023 Asian Championship and has four continental golds to its name.

Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni acknowledged the "big responsibility" and "big challenge" for the ranked 64 Alas Pilipinas in the international tourney slated for next year.

READ: PH to host 2025 Volleyball Men's World Championship

"I can say that for us, all teams are pretty difficult, but those two [Egypt and Tunisia], they are not difficult as Italy, as Poland, and everything. And by the way, I have only two words to say today--big responsibility that we have in this championship, and big challenge for us," Frigoni said.

Alas Men will work hard to present a better result for the home crowd, said ace Michaelo Buddin, as he expressed excitement in participating at the world championship.

"Para sa akin naman, kahit sino naman siguro ka-bracket namin du'n, lahat naman sila anlalakas kaya super excited na makalaban 'yung mga team na 'yon. Siguro mas magwo-work hard kami para makasabay kami sa kung anong ipapakita nila--para sa Filipino fans na sumusuporta sa 'min," Buddin said.

"Para sa akin, no pressure kasi alam naman natin na wala silang ine-expect sa 'min. Ine-expect nila matatalo kami so kung ano 'yung ite-train namin, during games, siguro ilalabas namin lahat para maipakita sa kanila na may ibubuga rin 'yung Philippines men's volleyball team dito sa atin," he added.

Here is the official result of the drawing of lots. The top two squads from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.

POOL A

Philippines (#64)

Iran (#15)

Egypt (#20)

Tunisia (#24)

POOL B

Poland (#1)

Netherlands (#13)

Qatar (#21)

Romania (#26)

POOL C

France (#2)

Argentina (#9)

South Korea (#28)

Finland (#23)

POOL D

United States (#3)

Cuba (#12)

Portugal (#22)

Colombia (#45)

POOL E

Slovenia (#4)

Germany (#8)

Bulgaria (#19)

Chile (#27)

POOL F

Italy (#5)

Ukraine (#14)

Belgium (#16)

Algeria (#50)

POOL G

Japan (#6)

Canada (#11)

Türkiye (#17)

Libya (#44)

POOL H

Brazil (#7)

Serbia (#10)

Czechia (#18)

China (#25)