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Tag: 2026 AVC Women’s Cup

  • Strong Group Athletics to offer collegiate players to reinforce Alas in AVC Women’s Cup 

    Strong Group Athletics to offer collegiate players to reinforce Alas in AVC Women’s Cup 

    At a time when Alas Pilipinas is scrambling to rebuild its roster, one of the country’s biggest sports backers has stepped forward with a clear message: help is available.

    Strong Group Athletics (SGA), the sports stable behind multiple collegiate and professional volleyball programs, publicly committed its support to the national team on Thursday, offering not only players but also financial backing for whoever gets called up to the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup pool.

     

    The timing could hardly be more significant.

    With several established national team players already withdrawing from consideration due to injuries, fatigue, scheduling conflicts, and personal decisions, Alas Pilipinas has been left searching for available bodies less than a month before the continental tournament in Candon City.

    Rather than waiting on the sidelines, SGA positioned itself as a potential bridge between the depleted national squad and the next wave of available talent.

    “In light of the reported shortage of players for the upcoming 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, Strong Group Athletics expresses its willingness to pool the best talents from its teams from both professional and collegiate in support of the national team campaign in the AVC,” the statement read.

    The Frank Lao-backed organization oversees PVL teams ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh while also supporting several collegiate programs, including University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Letran, and College of Saint Benilde.

     

    That wide network now gives the national team additional flexibility as it tries to complete a competitive roster in time for the AVC Women’s Cup.

    More notably, SGA made it clear that collegiate athletes called into the national pool would receive the same treatment as professional players — a move that could further encourage younger standouts to immediately embrace national team duty.

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    “All collegiate players who will be selected for the national roster pool will be given the same compensation and benefits as PVL draftees, including win-game bonuses and practice allowances,” the statement added.

    The declaration arrives at a moment when the national team program is confronting uncertainty on multiple fronts.

    Several cornerstone players from the previous Alas setup, including Jia De Guzman, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido, have already become unavailable for the tournament. Injuries and coaching concerns have further complicated preparations heading into the June competition.

    That reality has shifted attention toward younger collegiate players and emerging PVL standouts who may now be asked to take on bigger national team responsibilities sooner than expected.

    SGA’s latest move suggests the organization is prepared to become one of the major support systems behind that transition.

    With its programs spread across both collegiate and professional volleyball, the sports stable now holds access to one of the country’s deepest talent pools — and as Alas Pilipinas searches for answers, that depth may soon become more valuable than ever.

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  • PNVF names 27 invited players for Alas Pilipinas Women pool ahead of 2026 AVC Women’s Cup 

    PNVF names 27 invited players for Alas Pilipinas Women pool ahead of 2026 AVC Women’s Cup 

    A new phase of national team preparation is underway as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation released an initial list of 27 invited players for Alas Pilipinas, marking the early stage of its buildup for the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup. The federation clarified that the roster is not yet final and remains subject to confirmation, availability, and final program alignment. 

     

    The list immediately drew attention for its fresh infusion of collegiate talent, with several standout names from the UAAP women’s volleyball scene earning their first major national team look. 

     

    Among them are National University rookie Sam Cantada and teammate Shaira Jardio, along with Far Eastern University’s Jaz Ellarina and Tin Ubaldo, plus University of the Philippines’ Nina Ytang.


    They are joined by proven Premier Volleyball League contributors such as Kianna Dy of PLDT, Erika Santos of Cignal, Jean Asis of Galeries Tower, and Riza Nogales of ZUS Coffee, strengthening the pool with professional league experience.

     

    At the core of continuity, 16 players from previous Alas Pilipinas Women lineups have been retained pending availability. 

     

    Leading the group is captain Jia De Guzman, who continues to anchor the program alongside seasoned names like Eya Laure, Maddie Madayag, Mars Alba, Fifi Sharma, Justine Jazareno, Jen Nierva, Alleiah Malaluan, Vanie Gandler, and Bella Belen.

     

    The collegiate backbone remains strong as well, with De La Salle’s Angel Canino and Amie Provido, Adamson’s Shaina Nitura, NU’s Arah Panique, and DLSU’s Shevanah Laput all included.

     

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    Internationally active hitter Alyssa Solomon also returns to the fold, while NCAA standouts Zam Nolasco and Vanessa Sarie round out the developmental core.

     

    Beyond roster construction, the federation also underscored its ongoing commitment to athlete welfare and program support. 

     

    The PNVF acknowledged recent concerns raised within the system and reiterated efforts to improve conditions, resources, and overall support structures for players in the national pool as preparation intensifies.

     

    While the roster is still subject to final adjustments depending on availability and program alignment, early indications point to a carefully curated mix of youth and experience designed to elevate competitiveness ahead of a demanding international campaign.

     

    With Pool A of the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup set to include South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and Uzbekistan, the Philippines enters its home campaign in Candon City with a carefully structured roster aimed at balancing immediate competitiveness and long-term growth. 

     

    Defending champion Vietnam headlines Pool B alongside Kazakhstan, Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Lebanon, setting the stage for a highly competitive continental tournament.

     

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  • Alas Pilipinas Women at risk of disbandment over allowance issues ahead of AVC Nations Cup 

    Alas Pilipinas Women at risk of disbandment over allowance issues ahead of AVC Nations Cup 

    The challenge for the Alas Pilipinas Women is no longer confined to the court. What was supposed to be a period of rebuilding has instead turned into a moment of reckoning, as concerns from both former and prospective players cast doubt on the stability of the national program.

     

    At the center of the uncertainty are issues that go beyond systems and rotations—questions of trust, welfare, and commitment. Reports indicate that several athletes have grown hesitant about joining or returning to the program, not because of competition, but because of unresolved matters behind the scenes.

     

    Among the most pressing concerns are delays in allowances, with some players allegedly waiting months without compensation. For athletes weighing the decision to represent the country, financial clarity has become just as important as the opportunity itself.

     

    Alongside this are concerns about player welfare, particularly in areas related to health and safety—factors that are increasingly shaping how modern athletes evaluate national team commitments.

     

    These issues come at a critical time for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, which had been preparing for a fresh start under newly appointed head coach Anusorn Bundit.

     

    Part of that plan included a proposed special draft tied to the PVL rookie selection process, designed to give the coaching staff a structured way to build the next core of the national team.

     

    The idea, on paper, offered direction. Selected players would commit to a two-year stint under the national program while remaining under contract with the federation—an arrangement meant to ensure continuity and long-term development.

     

    But the hesitation surrounding the draft reflects a deeper issue.

     

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    With reports of nearly six months of delayed allowances and unclear contractual terms, players are now approaching the opportunity with caution, weighing not just the honor of wearing the national colors, but the realities that come with it.

     

    All of this uncertainty comes as the national team approaches a major international test. Alas Pilipinas Women has been drawn into a challenging Pool A alongside South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and Uzbekistan for the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup set from June 6 to 14 in Candon City.

     

    Instead of focusing solely on preparations and matchups, however, the program now finds itself balancing external expectations with internal stability.

     

    What emerges is a team at a crossroads.

     

    On one side is the opportunity to compete on home soil against some of the region’s toughest squads. On the other is the urgent need to resolve issues that could determine whether the team takes the court at full strength—or at all.

     

    Until those concerns are addressed, the future of Alas Pilipinas Women remains uncertain—not because of a lack of talent, but because of questions that still need answers.

     

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  • PNVF stands firm and takes charge of 2026 AVC Women’s Cup hosting

    PNVF stands firm and takes charge of 2026 AVC Women’s Cup hosting

    The Philippine National Volleyball Federation unveiled its packed 2026 calendar on Tuesday, showcasing a lineup of major events during a press conference at its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

     

    Among the highlights is the highly anticipated 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, and the PNVF is making it clear that it will be firmly in charge.

     

    PNVF president Anthony Liao reiterated the federation’s full control over the tournament’s organization, dismissing reports of possible outside involvement.

     

    With the tournament scheduled for June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, speculation had circulated that an external group might oversee the event. Liao quickly shut down such rumors.

    “Definitely, the PNVF will be on top of things,” he said.

     

    Liao added that recent discussions with Candon Mayor Eric Singson clarified the division of responsibilities between the host city and the federation.

     

    “We just went to Candon last week and we had discussions with Mayor Eric [Singson]. Sabi nga niya, Candon will host, PNVF will organize,” Liao explained.

     

    “‘Yun din ang sasabihin niya du’n na they will host, then they will connect,” he added.

     

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    Beyond those concerns, another speculation surprised Liao, that the Alas Pilipinas Women’s team might not compete in the home tournament.

     

    “The national team will definitely play kasi nagulat ako last week, may nagtatanong sa ’kin kung totoo raw na walang women’s team,” he said. “Sabi ko, we are hosting so imposible naman na walang women’s team. I don’t know where that came from pero definitely, ‘yung Alas women’s team will be playing there.”

     

    For Liao, hosting is about more than logistics, it’s about representation. A home tournament without the national team was never an option.

     

    Looking ahead, the federation is also exploring structural changes that could impact Philippine volleyball. 

     

    One plan would allow Alas Pilipinas head coach Tai Bundit to identify and secure national team prospects before teams make their selections in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft—an approach that could reshape how talent moves between national and professional programs.

     

    The 2026 AVC Women’s Cup is just one event in a packed international schedule. The Philippines is also set to compete in the 6th Asian Beach Games, the Asian Women’s U18 Championship, the 6th SEA V-League Women’s Week 1 and 2, the FIVB U17 Girls’ World Championship, and the 19th Asian Games.

     

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