Just weeks before the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup in Candon City, Alas Pilipinas is suddenly facing a different kind of battle — not against another country, but against time and player availability.
What was initially expected to be a continuation of the national team program following the Southeast Asian Games has instead turned into a major rebuilding process after several key members of the previous Alas core declined invitations to return.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Anthony Liao confirmed that many of the players from the SEA Games squad, including longtime team captain Jia De Guzman, have already informed the federation that they will not be joining the upcoming AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup set for June 6 to 14 in Candon City.
“The old Alas. We invited them, maybe they’re not available, or they’re not willing to play. They said no, eh. They said they are not interested in playing anymore, so wala na,” said Liao.
“Yung naglaro ng SEA Games, we invited all of them, they said they will not play anymore,” he added.
The withdrawals have left the national team program scrambling for answers less than a month before hosting one of the biggest women’s volleyball tournaments in the region.
Aside from De Guzman, Liao revealed that Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Maddie Madayag have also opted to skip national team duties this time around.
“Jia already replied to Ricky Palou. She’s not playing. Same with Maddie, kasi ang kumo-contact si Taj eh, ‘yung team manager. Ini-inform lang niya ako kung sinong umoo, sinong humindi. Even Belen, nag-no. Solomon daw next year na lang,” he said.
OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.
ALAS WOMEN SEA GAMES CORE OUT
No player from the Alas Pilipinas Women’s 33rd SEA Games roster, except Angel Canino and Amie Provido, will be considered for the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup.
The likes of Jia de Guzman and Bella Belen have turned down the invite. #AlasPilipinas… pic.twitter.com/arDFcj37Jy
— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) May 13, 2026
The uncertainty does not end there.
Other members of the SEA Games squad — including Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, Mars Alba, and Alleiah Malaluan — have yet to fully commit as the federation continues to piece together a workable pool.
At the same time, some players willing to join are now dealing with physical setbacks.
Rising star Shaina Nitura reportedly wanted to suit up for Alas Pilipinas but was forced to beg off because of an undisclosed injury, while Justine Jazareno has expressed interest in joining though no formal commitment has been finalized.
“Nitura naman, injured pero gustong maglaro. ‘Yung Akari, Alba, Sharma, Jazareno, walang reply. Pero I was able to talk to Jazareno sa Candon nung All-Star, she’s willing to play,” Liao shared.
With the original core slowly thinning out, the federation is now shifting its attention toward younger and available reinforcements.
Liao disclosed that discussions are ongoing with De La Salle University regarding the possible participation of reigning UAAP champions Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido.
“Definitely, we will be adding. Kasi, right now we only have 11 to 12 players, eh. So the plan really is to have a pool of 20 to 25 players. We’ll talk with the coaches and Coach Tai,” Liao said.
The timing could hardly be more challenging for the national team.
Recently appointed Alas Pilipinas head coach Tai Bundit is also expected to miss the next two to three months after figuring in a car accident in Thailand, further complicating preparations for the host nation.
Instead of building continuity from the SEA Games campaign, Alas Pilipinas now finds itself rushing to rebuild nearly from scratch — hoping to gather enough healthy and committed players before the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup finally arrives.
Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!
Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!
Leave a Reply