ALAS Pilipinas is still putting the finishing touches on its Asian Games roster, with head coach Taka Minowa confirming changes are expected to the initial 12-player list submitted for the Aichi-Nagoya meet later this month.
At least two versions of the Philippine roster have surfaced so far, beginning with one posted on the Asiad website before a supposed revised shortlist later emerged.
READ: Why the Alas Pilipinas Asian Games rosters can still change
But Minowa said the list remains far from final.
Asked if the roster was indeed set to undergo further changes, the Japanese mentor replied: “I think so, yes.”
Minowa explained the initial roster was submitted before Alas began training under his tenure, and the situation further shifted after its recent SEA V.Cup campaign.
“I think the [initial] 12 was before we started training, we needed to submit already. There were a lot of changes because after the SEA V.Cup, we didn't expect that it was going to be changed, but there were changes,” he said.
Minowa, however, stopped short of discussing the specific players involved.
“I don’t want to talk about the roster, but it will come,” he said.
Alas preparations
For now, Minowa's bigger concern is making sure the Filipinas are physically ready for what awaits in Japan.
National team players are still recovering from a demanding SEA V.Cup campaign that had them playing successive matches over two weeks in two different countries.
“Since we didn't play in the AVC Cup in Candon this year, [SEA V.Cup] was the first time they played three games in a row, which is kind of a different schedule than the PVL,” Minowa said.
“That’s why after we came back to Manila, we are still tired and still recovering, especially Bella [Belen], Eya [Laure], they are the only outside hitters and worked hard during Leg 1 and Leg 2. So still recovering in preparation of Asian Games.”
That recovery will be crucial with the clock ticking toward September 16, when Alas opens its Asian Games campaign as part of Pool B alongside continental powers China and Kazakhstan.
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