Weeks before the tournament begins in Candon City, the Alas Pilipinas finds itself adjusting not only to a reshuffled player pool but also to a sudden coaching change after Thai tactician Tai Bundit was sidelined following an accident in Bangkok that required ankle surgery.
In response, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation turned to a familiar figure to stabilize the program.
PNVF president Tony Boy Liao confirmed that Shaq Delos Santos has been appointed interim head coach of Alas Pilipinas Women for the AVC Women’s Cup scheduled from June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
The assignment places Delos Santos back in charge of the national team under circumstances far different from his previous stint.
From 2018 to 2021, Delos Santos handled the women’s national squad in both the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games, helping guide the program during a rebuilding period. Now, he returns at another crucial transition point for Philippine volleyball — this time tasked with holding together a roster still searching for stability weeks before international competition.
Alas Pilipinas Women has recently dealt with multiple player withdrawals and roster uncertainty, forcing the federation to rebuild much of its available pool ahead of the AVC Women’s Cup. Several established national team players have either declined invitations or prioritized recovery following a grueling collegiate and club season.
Still, the federation believes Delos Santos’ familiarity with both local volleyball culture and national team dynamics makes him the ideal bridge while Bundit recovers.
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The veteran coach will not be alone in steering the squad. Multi-titled PVL coach Sherwin Meneses and JP Yude will remain part of the coaching staff to support the national team during Bundit’s absence.
The AVC Women’s Cup was originally expected to mark the beginning of a new era under Bundit after he officially took over the program earlier this year following the departure of Jorge de Brito. However, those plans were temporarily interrupted after Bundit suffered an ankle injury in a scooter accident in Bangkok, with reports estimating a recovery period of two to three months.
Despite the challenges, the national team has continued to move forward with preparations.
Recent reports also revealed that several players have already begun attending Alas Pilipinas training sessions, including veteran star Alyssa Valdez, who reportedly expressed willingness to help the program amid the team’s current transition phase.
For Delos Santos, the assignment is less about long-term control and more about restoring structure during an unstable moment for the national team.
With a short preparation window, an evolving roster, and mounting expectations ahead of a home tournament, Alas Pilipinas Women now leans on familiarity and experience as it attempts to regroup before returning to the international stage.
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