In an update by Negros Occidental local authorities on 12 November, a tragic road accident was confirmed to be the cause of Alas Pilipinas Men pool member Ike Andrew Barilea’s untimely passing. He was 21.
Police Lt. Mansueto De Jose Jr., deputy chief of the Cadiz City Component Police Station in Negros Occidental, revealed in an interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod that Barilea, who was riding a motorcycle, collided with a bus in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
The crash caused Barilea to be pinned under the bus. He was rescued and rushed to a hospital, where his condition initially remained stable but later deteriorated, leading to his passing.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Alas Pilipinas Volley expressed its grief: “The court feels emptier, and our hearts heavier.”
“Thank you for the laughter, the memories, and the heart you gave to the team. Heaven gained an angel, but we lost a piece of ours. Fly high, our dear ALAS,” the post read.
The middle blocker’s impressive performance with 1 Silay Volleyball Club at the 2025 PNVF U21 National Finals earned him a spot in the national team’s initial 21-man pool.
Barilea also saw action under Alas Pilipinas-Cignal during the 2025 AVC Men’s Volleyball Champions League held last May in Japan.