OVER the past several years, Philippine volleyball has grown by leaps and bounds. But the year about to pass arguably will go down as one of the best years for the sport.
We can start with the national team. Once a revolving door that feature players who come and go at a pace so blinding that you can hardly remember their names, it now has continuity, players that are playing together longer, bringing with them chemistry, camaraderie and a collective sense of purpose.
With veterans, there also came a continued infusion of new talent, adding variety to the existing team.
READ: Matches and moments that defined PVL's historic 2024
To make the national team distinct from the past, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) also decided to give it a monicker, similar to other sports like basketball (Gilas Pilipinas) and football (Azkals). The team was christened Alas Pilipinas, and it was promised the kind of support past teams never had.
The program's main objective is to achieve volleyball glory and eradicate its past image as laughing stock of the region. And if things really go its way, maybe make a name for itself in Asia, if not the rest of the world.
Having said that, SPIN.ph thought it fitting to list how volleyball, both men and women, has continued to bring the sport to the national consciousness, listing this year's major breakthroughs and defining moments for the national team.
NEW NAME, NEW GAME
PH volleyball teams unified as ‘Alas Pilipinas’
For the first time since ‘Amihan’ and ‘Bagwis’ in 2015, Philippine volleyball teams are now known as Alas Pilipinas — a name to be used by national squads in indoor and beach competitions.
Translated, ‘Alas’ is Filipino term for ‘ace,’ which also is winning a point from an unreturned service in volleyball. The word is also used in tennis, the difference being that in tennis, the service ball is untouched by an opponent.
An ace, as most people who play cards know, is also the highest-ranked and most valuable card in a deck. And so, with the idea that the Philippine volleyball team can be on top and deliver aces, Alas Pilipinas was born.
The teams were launched in May with a provisional 16-woman and 21-man squads, signaling the start of what is envisioned as a long-term rebuild project for Philippine volleyball.
HOMETOWN HEROES
Alas Men, Women strike bronze on home soil
It did not take long for the project to bear fruit.
Alas Women made its presence known during the 2024 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup in Manila.
After a lone hiccup in the semifinals to Kazakhstan, Alas Women completed a four-game pool play sweep and then topped it with an emphatic sweep of tough Australia in the battle for third.
The women's squad missed the finals, but by being in the semifinals was no small feat for our women. It marked the first time a national volleyball team, men or women, had made the semis of an Asian tournament with more than four competing nations.
Individual awards also went to team captain Jia de Guzman as the tournament’s best setter while former UAAP MVP Angel Canino was named best opposite spiker.
Alas Men also had its fair share of podium glory as it struck bronze in their home leg of the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) Men’s V.League held at the nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Like its women counterparts, two Filipinos also won awards. Buds Buddi was best outside spiker in his national team debut. while veteran defender Kim Malabunga was best middle blocker.
FEELS LIKE HOME
Podium encores for Alas Men, Women in overseas play
The medal haul keeps growing.
Alas Women pickled up two bronze medals in the women’s edition of the SEA V.League by taking down regional rival Indonesia in both legs of the competition.
It would only be the second time that the Philippines scored a double podium in the regional meet since its inaugural staging in 2019.
Thea Gagate was named best middle blocker along with another top setter plum for captain de Guzman in the first leg in Vietnam.
Reigning UAAP Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon had her moment of glory in Leg 2 in Thailand where she won the best opposite spiker award.
The men’s team also kept hold of its first-leg podium finish by doubling down on Vietnam in the second leg.
From National University to the Asian stage, Buddin’s emergence took further flight with another honor: back-to-back top outside hitter awards.
Albeit winless, both Alas indoor teams gained international exposure of the highest order in a series of exhibition matches with powerhouse Japan SV.League clubs in nine-time champion Saga Hisamitsu Springs and Yuji Nishida-led Osaka Bluteon. The Alas Women’s team also fought a five-setter against Korea’s Powerful Daegu.
FOREIGN FLAIR AT THE HELM
Frigoni, de Brito headline Alas’ foreign leadership
Following Alas Women’s breakthrough bronze on home soil, 58-year-old Brazilian tactician Jorge Souza de Brito was rewarded with a one-year contract extension as the nationals’ head coach.
With the extension, the former Olympic bronze medalist will call the shots for Alas Women until the 33rd SEA Games next year in Bangkok, Thailand.
With 2025 set to be his fourth year with Philippine volleyball, de Brito aims to strike a balance between a fresh approach to leading the nationals while building much-needed chemistry and longevity.
The PNVF's strong ties with the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and collegiate leagues UAAP and NCAA is making this program a real possibility. This relationship allowed the PVL to borrow players at the right moment following adjusted schedules by the leagues that fit into national team activities.
“Right now, we start from zero. We have some really good guys that had really good stints in the last season. But now, it will be the start of the PVL and also the UAAP [and NCAA], so the guys can show up again,” de Brito told SPIN.ph in November.
“There are some guys who we didn’t bring [to the national team] before but they now have a chance to come. The national team is always a place for the best guys and the door is wide open for them.”
With de Brito’s Brazilian compatriot Sergio Veloso re-assigned to Alas’ grassroots development program, a frank and stern persona in 70-year-old Italian mentor Angiolino Frigoni stepped in as Alas Men’s new head coach.
Frank, no-nonsense, and filter-free are among key attributes Frigoni has shown less than a year into his tenure.
Frigoni, however, is not one to be totally pleased with where the country stands in the international volleyball community. He is honest to admit that the Philippines is still far away from its goals, but it is progressing.
“I think we are very far from the high level," Frigori said. "We have to compete with this level now. Maybe in the future, we can be better, but now this is our level. While we want to be better for another level, we have to win in this level."
“But I can see that there is a potential here. There is no potential to compete for the first (best) teams in the world, but now we are in this level and there is a potential to compete in this level.”
ONE FOR THE WORLD
Suzara lands AVC, FIVB leadership posts as PH hosts 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship
While it would have really been a coup if the country were to host a women's world championship, the Philippines settled for the next best thing by bidding and winning hosting rights for the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship next year.
The Philippines will become the first solo hosts of the global conclave since the 2014 edition in Poland.
A record 32 teams will see action in the biggest playing field ever for a volleyball world championship. It will include the Philippines which earned a slot as hosts.
The matches will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay — home to all of Alas’ matches — and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The tournament will be held September 12 to 28, 2025.
Leading Philippine volleyball’s biggest year is PNVF president Ramon ’Tats’ Suzara, who was named the first Filipino Asian Volleyball Confederation chief in 46 years prior to his appointment as executive vice president of the FIVB, the sport’s world governing body.
“We can’t get enough of volleyball. The Philippines is a country that loves volleyball […] The rest of the world does not know yet that we love volleyball and that Filipino volleyball fans set the standard,” Suzara said.
“We’d like to work hard on this that Asia can do it for a world championship next year. Let’s work hard and I’m very proud for the Filipinos to host this first-ever world championship for the first time.
“It’s what the Philippines can give and the experience that we will get in this World Championship that makes this (hosting) obviously historic.”
CALL FOR A NEW CULTURE
Jia, Dawn call for continuity to keep Alas Pilipinas rising
The country’s national volleyball teams have taken on many forms and countless iterations over the years, from pro league champions to fleeting assemblages of veterans and college standouts.
But for the Philippines to have a serious shot to have a winning program at its hands, such a culture of arbitrariness has to change for good.
To be at par with the world’s best, then a few setbacks should no longer force Alas Pilipinas to go back to square one and start from scratch, as have happened in the past.
“We’re going against teams na tumanda sa loob ng national team, tayo, yun din naman yung goal natin, tumanda kaming magkakasama sa loob ng national team. That’s how you build longevity, that’s how you build chemistry, that’s how you build a strong team in the long run,” de Guzman said.
“We can’t expect na isang talo, isang adversity, palit kaagad. Keep the same people, add new people, reinforce the team. That’s how you make a team strong. Hopefully, ‘yun talaga yung magawa natin.”
Dawn Macandili-Catindig agreed, “Wish ko talaga is to continue playing together and to keep that bond. Mabilis lang ang one year. Hindi pwedeng magkikita-kita na lang ulit kami next year. Kailangang mag-tuloy-tuloy talaga,” said Macandili-Catindig.
“Ang biggest lesson ko (with Alas) is ‘yung responsibility to keep it going. We achieved something very historic and something that we have been working hard for.
“It takes a lot of grit to keep that passion and to keep that going until maging silver na siya and maging gold eventually.”
And that’s how this version of a Philippine national volleyball team has built its identity.
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