No Apologies: Malabunga Regrets Huge Net Touch Call vs Iran

MANILA, Philippines – National team veteran Kim Malabunga has expressed regret for a decisive net touch call that led to the nullification of Alas Pilipinas’ supposed victory over world No. 16 Iran, preventing them from securing a spot in the knockout phase of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. In a dramatic turn of events, the Philippines team thought they had achieved a remarkable upset over Iran, only to have their hopes dashed by a razor-thin net touch violation. Despite the disappointment, Malabunga has taken responsibility for the mistake and apologized for the error. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the team, who had fought tirelessly throughout the match to push the game to the deciding set. As they came tantalizingly close to a historic win, the net touch call extinguished their hopes and left them devastated.