For Joshua Magalaman, wearing the Alas Pilipinas jersey for the first time became more than just a career milestone—it turned into a statement that he may be ready for a much bigger role moving forward.
The De La Salle middle blocker delivered an eye-catching performance in his senior national team debut, pouring in a team-high 21 points despite the Philippines falling to Cambodia in a grueling five-set battle, 23-25, 30-28, 20-25, 25-22, 15-8, on Wednesday at the Candon City Arena.
While the result left Alas Pilipinas searching for its first win in Pool A of the SEA V Cup, Magalaman’s breakout effort provided one of the brightest takeaways for the host squad.
The 23-year-old finished with 15 attack points on 22 attempts, complemented by four blocks and two service aces, an all-around display that energized the hometown crowd throughout the match.
Even Magalaman admitted he never expected to lead a veteran-filled Philippine lineup in scoring, especially from the middle blocker position.
“Ako po mismo nagulat ako. Like, paano ko ‘yon nagawa? Tapos, inisip ko na lang, eh, nagagawa ko ’yon kasi ’yon yung tine-training namin. Yun yung tinuturo sa akin ni Coach Frigoni. Like, bago ako, pero na-adapt ko yung sistema niya,” said Magalaman.
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NAGPAKITANG GILAS PARA SA PILIPINAS
Josh Magalaman admits he was surprised by his team-high 21-point performance in his Alas Pilipinas debut, but credits his training and the lessons learned under Coach Frigoni, while acknowledging the team needs to cut down on its errors — pic.twitter.com/zx6ifcPL1f
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) July 15, 2026
His performance marked another significant chapter in a journey that has steadily gained momentum.
Magalaman transferred to De La Salle University before UAAP Season 87 but did not crack the final roster that year. He eventually suited up for the Green Spikers in Season 88, where flashes of his talent emerged, though opportunities remained limited.
Now competing against Southeast Asia’s top national teams, the 6-foot-5 middle blocker believes the experience will accelerate his development ahead of his next collegiate campaign.
“Napakalaking experience po ’yung ito. Gagamitin ko po ’to sa mga susunod na liga, Season 89, ganon,” he said.
Despite the individual success, Magalaman stressed that the Philippines has plenty to clean up after committing 46 unforced errors—mistakes that ultimately allowed Cambodia to complete its comeback after dropping the opening set.
The loss overshadowed strong offensive performances across the lineup. Jude Garcia backed Magalaman with 20 points, while Louie Ramirez added 17 markers. Al-Bukharie Sali and Lirick Mendoza also chipped in 10 and eight points, respectively, as Alas Pilipinas showed flashes of its offensive potential.
Still, the costly errors proved too much to overcome against a disciplined Cambodian side that capitalized late to secure the five-set victory.
Now carrying an 0-1 record in Pool A, the Philippines heads into a crucial matchup against reigning AVC Men’s Cup champion Indonesia on Friday, with a victory needed to keep its semifinal hopes alive.
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