MANILA, Philippines—Alas Pilipinas is off to begin its campaign in the inaugural Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men’s Volleyball Champions League in Japan.

On Friday, the Nationals arrived in Japan for the training camp and the continental tilt.

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“Alas Pilipinas is off to Japan for the AVC Champions League, where they’ll face some of Asia’s strongest club teams,” wrote Alas Pilipinas Volley. “A training camp is also lined up to boost their preparations. Good luck, mga Alas!”

The squad was headlined by Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni.

Also in the photograph were Cignal cornerstones Jau Umandal, Steven Rotter, Wendel Miguel, Lloyd Josafat, Vince Lorenzo, Louie Ramirez, EJ Casaña, JP Bugaoan and Owa Retamar.

Criss Cross standouts Marck Espejo, Gian Glorioso, Kim Malabunga and Lucca Mamone were also present.

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JM Paglaon of Savogue and Ike Barilea of Team 1Silay from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation U21 National Finals also rounded out the roster, as seen in the photo.

Alas Pilipinas will be in Pool B of the competition alongside Shanghai Bright-China and Osaka Blueton-Japan.

Japanese squad Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, Queensland Pirates and Aktobe-Kazakhstan make up Pool A while Iran, Taichung Bank-Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima are in Pool C.

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Sports Center 3-Vietnam, Bahrain and Qatar, meanwhile, round out Pool D

The Champions League games, whose women’s edition was held in the Philippines in April, will commence officially on May 11 in Hirakata, Japan.

The club competition is part of Alas Pilipinas’ road to the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship to be held in the country in Septemer.