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Tag: Alas Pilipinas Women

  • Alas Pilipinas Women braces for another test against Vietnam in SEA V.Cup Leg 2 

    Alas Pilipinas Women braces for another test against Vietnam in SEA V.Cup Leg 2 

    Alas Pilipinas Women will have another opportunity to rewrite a familiar script when they face Vietnam in Leg 2 of the 2026 SEA V.Cup on Saturday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.


    The matchup offers more than just another chance to climb the standings. It gives the Filipinas an opportunity to end a seven-year drought against one of Southeast Asia’s volleyball powerhouses after falling short in their first meeting of the tournament.

     

    Vietnam defeated the Philippines in four sets, 29-27, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19, during the Leg 1 opener, showcasing its experience behind the leadership of star outside hitter Trần Thị Thanh Thúy.

     

    That result stretched the Philippines’ losing streak against Vietnam to 15 consecutive matches, with the Filipinas still searching for their first victory over their regional rivals since October 4, 2019, when a Jia De Guzman-led squad earned a straight-set win during the second leg of the tournament, then known as the ASEAN Grand Prix, in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

     

    Now, the responsibility of ending that skid falls on a younger generation led by Bella Belen.

     

    Belen was the Philippines’ brightest offensive weapon in the previous meeting after scoring 17 points, and the reigning collegiate star is expected to once again spearhead the attack alongside Leg 1 Best Opposite Spiker Alyssa Solomon and veteran setter and team captain De Guzman.

     

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    For newly appointed head coach Taka Minowa, the rematch also presents a chance to show how quickly the team has adjusted to his system.

     

    The Japanese mentor is looking for more offensive consistency after the Filipinas finished fourth in Leg 1 following three consecutive defeats. 

     

    Finding secondary scoring options and sustaining offensive rhythm will be among the team’s biggest priorities against a disciplined Vietnamese side.

     

    Vietnam, meanwhile, enters the contest with momentum after capturing last year’s Leg 2 title and remains one of the favorites to contend for another SEA V.Cup crown.

     

    Before taking on Vietnam, however, the Philippines must first navigate a stern challenge against host nation and reigning Leg 1 champion Thailand on Friday, making the second leg another demanding stretch for the national team.

     

    The 2026 SEA V.Cup women’s tournament follows the same two-leg format featuring the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with Leg 2 being held from August 7 to 9 at the 700th Anniversary Sports Complex in Chiang Mai. 

     

    For the Philippines, the Thailand and Vietnam matches will also serve as key preparations ahead of future international competitions, including the Asian Games cycle, as Minowa continues to establish his system and evaluate combinations against the region’s strongest opponents. 

     

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  • Alas Pilipinas women arrive in Vietnam, set to face host country in SEA V Cup Leg 1 opener 

    Alas Pilipinas women arrive in Vietnam, set to face host country in SEA V Cup Leg 1 opener 

    The first major test of Alas Pilipinas’ newly assembled squad begins this week as the national women’s volleyball team opens its campaign in the SEA V Cup Leg 1 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

     

    With the Asian Games looming in September, the tournament serves as the team’s first opportunity to measure its chemistry and progress after the national pool was formed just over a month ago.


    Alas departed for Vietnam on Thursday and safely arrived in Hanoi ahead of the competition, which gets underway Friday at the Dong Anh Gymnasium. 

     

    The team’s official social media page shared photos of the squad’s arrival as preparations shifted from training to competition.

     

    Leading the national team is Japanese coach Taka Minowa, husband of former Philippine volleyball star Jaja Santiago, who will guide a roster largely composed of players loaned by Premier Volleyball League clubs.

     

    Capital1’s Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos headline the squad alongside ZUS Coffee’s Thea Gagate, Choco Mucho’s Eya Laure and Dawn Catindig, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, Akari’s Mars Alba, Jasmine Jazareno, and Fifi Sharma, Galeries Tower’s Lams Lamina, and Creamline setter Jia de Guzman.

     

    Joining them are collegiate and non-PVL standouts Nina Ytang, Alyssa Solomon, Arah Panique, Shaira Jardio, Celine Marsh, Vange Alinsug, Angel Canino, and Amie Provido, giving the coaching staff a deep pool of talent to evaluate before the continental meet.

     

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    The SEA V Cup also offers an early preview of the level of competition awaiting the Filipinas in the Asian Games, where they have been drawn into Pool B alongside defending champion China and Kazakhstan.

     

    Alas opens its campaign against host Vietnam, the reigning SEA V Cup champion after ending Thailand’s eight-leg title reign by winning last year’s Leg 2 in Ninh Binh. 

     

    The Filipinas then face regional powerhouse Thailand on Saturday before closing the single round-robin tournament against Indonesia on Sunday.

     

    The SEA V Cup also carries added significance as it is an FIVB-recognized annual zonal competition, with its results contributing to the FIVB World Rankings. 

     

    The tournament has become an important platform for Southeast Asian national teams to improve their international standing while preparing for major events such as the Asian Games and the AVC Asian Volleyball Championship. 

     

    Only one team will emerge as champion at the end of the three-day competition, while the second leg of the tournament is scheduled for August 7 to 9 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

     

    The 2026 campaign offers another opportunity for the national team to improve on that record as it builds toward the Asian Games. 

     

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  • Alas Men and Women complete Philippine volleyball’s Asian Games return, secure spots in Nagoya-Aichi 2026 

    Alas Men and Women complete Philippine volleyball’s Asian Games return, secure spots in Nagoya-Aichi 2026 

    Philippine volleyball is headed back to one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages — and this time, both the men’s and women’s national teams are going together.

     

    In a significant breakthrough for the sport, Alas Pilipinas Men and Alas Pilipinas Women have officially secured their places in the indoor volleyball competition of the Nagoya-Aichi 2026 Asian Games, giving the country representation in both divisions of the prestigious continental event.

     

    The qualification is more than just another tournament appearance. It is a reflection of how far the national program has come in recent years, with both teams climbing the Asian rankings and earning the right to compete against the region’s traditional powerhouses.

     

    “This is great news for our volleyball program,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino after receiving confirmation from the Asian Volleyball Confederation over the weekend.

     

    The Alas Women punched their ticket as Asia’s No. 10-ranked team in the FIVB rankings, while the Alas Men qualified as the continent’s No. 15 squad.

     

    Their inclusion completes a remarkable chapter for Philippine volleyball, which will now have representation in both indoor and beach volleyball competitions at the Asian Games.

     

    For the women, the qualification validates years of steady progress that transformed Alas Pilipinas from an underdog into one of the region’s emerging programs. For the men, it serves as another reward after a resurgence that saw the squad steadily gain ground against stronger Asian opposition.

     

    Both teams will compete in a 16-nation field when the indoor volleyball tournament unfolds in Aichi Prefecture from September 27 to October 3.

     

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    The men’s division will feature regional heavyweights Japan, Iran, China, South Korea, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia, Bahrain, Chinese Taipei, India, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and Pakistan alongside the Philippines.

     

    Meanwhile, the women’s field includes Japan, China, Thailand, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Korea, and Qatar.

     

    The development was personally relayed to Tolentino by AVC president Tats Suzara, further solidifying the country’s participation despite the ongoing administrative issues surrounding Philippine volleyball.

     

    With the Philippine National Volleyball Federation currently under suspension by the FIVB, the Philippine Olympic Committee is expected to oversee the country’s volleyball participation moving forward.

     

    The indoor teams’ qualification also completes the Philippines’ volleyball delegation after the national beach volleyball squads previously secured their own Asian Games berths.

     

    Leading that charge are reigning Southeast Asian Games champions Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, who will spearhead the country’s campaign in the beach volleyball competition at Hekinan City.

     

    With both indoor teams and beach volleyball pairs now qualified, Philippine volleyball is set for one of its most extensive Asian Games representations in recent memory — a sign that the sport’s momentum continues to grow on the continental stage.

     

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