The GAME looks at what has been an interesting 2024 for the volleyball scene in the Philippines.
Twenty-twenty-four will go down as an interesting year for the Philippine volleyball scene. In a nonstop stretch of high-level volleyball action, we saw a storied club team fulfill its destiny, while a rebooted national team program inspired hopes for long-awaited stability.
A powerhouse collegiate program stamped their class over the playing field, while stars from foreign countries left their mark on the local fanbase. However, it wasn’t a perfect year either, with an officiating controversy and contract dispute rocking the country’s sole professional volleyball league.
With 2024 coming to a close, let’s take a quick look at how the year has been for the Philippine volleyball scene.
The Highlights
Creamline gets the Grand Slam
It was in 2022 when the Creamline Cool Smashers nearly achieved Philippine volleyball’s first-ever “Grand Slam” in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), only to fall short in the Reinforced Conference to settle for a third-place finish.
Two years later, they would finally get the Grand Slam in the 2024 PVL season after winning the All-Filipino, Reinforced, and Invitational Conferences between May to September this year.
And it’s even more impressive given the challenges they faced, from stiff competition in the AFC to key losses in the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
Yet despite these, the Cool Smashers found ways to prevail, from rediscovering their groove in the AFC to their second unit showing their mettle amid heavy losses in the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences along with import Erica Staunton.
Entering 2024, they were already the standard for success in Philippine volleyball. And in leaving 2024, their pedestal has been raised even higher, all thanks to the heart and grit they exhibited in the face of adversity.
Alas Pilipinas sets solid foundations
With a new moniker in ‘Alas Pilipinas,’ the country’s national volleyball team for women started off their campaign with a historic bronze medal at the AVC Challenge Cup in Manila last May amid little to no preparation time and last-minute subtractions caused by injuries.
About three months later, the Nationals added another pair of bronze medals from the SEA V.League Legs 1 and 2 held in Indonesia and Thailand, respectively. In between were overseas training camps and exhibition matches to develop chemistry within head coach Jorge de Brito’s handpicked pool.
These feats should be a good enough springboard for a better 2025 for the nationals. Remember, this is still a young program under de Brito, with his initial core only gathering for the AVC Challenge Cup in May.
What’s most important is to ensure the continuity within this group moving forward. If history is any indication, national teams aren’t as simple as forming a dream team. Stability is just as important as the overflowing talent in a star-studded lineup.
The same goes for Alas Pilipinas Men, who nabbed a pair of SEA V.League bronzes under new Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni and his core of veterans and top collegiate stars such as Michaelo Buddin and Noel Kampton.
Initiatives such as overseas training camps, tuneups, and exhibition games will just be as crucial as these teams continue to build rapport on and off the court for international success.
NU’s UAAP Golden Double; dynasties extended in NCAA
Over in the collegiate scene, National University completed a rare “Golden Double” in the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournament, or the first since Ateneo in Season 77 (2015).
It was a redemption year for the women’s team, who dropped their Season 85 finals rematch against the La Salle Lady Spikers in 2023.
The men’s team got its four-peat under coach Dante Alinsunurin, who can go for a fifth-straight UAAP title when the Season 87 volleyball tournaments kick off next year. This time around, it’ll be a younger core led by Buddin following the departure of pre-pandemic holdovers Joshua Retamar and Nico Almendras among others.
Dynasties, meanwhile, were extended in the NCAA. Perpetual Help completed its four-peat in Season 99 to become the winningest program in NCAA men’s volleyball. Meanwhile, Jerry Yee’s turnaround in College of St. Benilde continued as a core led by setter Clo Mondoñedo completed its three-peat in the women’s ranks.
PVL’s inaugural Rookie Draft
Amid its meteoric rise in popularity and competition, the PVL decided to implement a Rookie Draft system, which drew 47 aspirants for its inaugural iteration last July. Such development is expected to improve the level of parity within the country’s sole professional volleyball league.
Thea Gagate was the historic first-overall draft pick last July, followed by La Salle teammates Leila Cruz (2nd overall), Julia Coronel (3rd overall), and Maicah Larroza (4th overall).
And so far, we’re seeing the effects of the said innovation. Thea Gagate is one of the leaders in ZUS Coffee’s rise to contention, while Julia Coronel’s playmaking has improved the Galeries Tower Highrisers’ offense. Leila Cruz is emerging to be a top gunner in Capital1, while 14th overall pick Roma Mae Doromal is looking like a steal of the draft under coach Roger Gorayeb.
Should the NU core led by Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon forgo their fifth playing year, then the Rookie Class of 2025 is expected to be a deeper one. Given this, it’ll be interesting to see how another round of the PVL Draft can improve the competition following its inaugural draft festivities this year.
The Reinforced Conference’s new fan favorites
After a one-season absence, the PVL’s Reinforced Conference officially returned last July to bring another round of import-laden play in Philippine volleyball’s professional ranks.
On one hand, OGs such as Khat Bell and MJ Perez showed that they haven’t missed a beat despite their long absence from the Philippine volleyball scene. Wilma Salas eventually found her groove for Petro Gazz Angels, while Sutadta Jarawat provided finesse and veteran wisdom to the up-and-coming Galeries Tower Highrisers. Lena Samoilenko was ever-reliable, too, for the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
But on the other hand, this class included newcomers that left a mark on their respective PVL debuts. Top of mind is Capital1’s Marina Tushova, who reset the PVL scoring records thrice, including a season-ending 50-pointer against the Cignal HD Spikers in the playoffs.
Creamline struck gold with Erica Staunton, a rookie import who seamlessly fit into the Grand Slam-winning system by head coach Sherwin Meneses. American spiker Olouma “Oly” Okaro also helped the Akari Chargers reach their first-ever PVL finals in the Reinforced Conference.
It remains to be seen when the next PVL Reinforced Conference will be held. But one thing’s for sure, and that’s the local fanbase adding a number of names to their favorite Philippine volleyball imports.
The Lowlights
PLDT and Akari’s endgame challenge
Unfortunately, a major low point in 2024 took place during the Reinforced Conference playoffs between the PLDT High Speed Hitters and Akari Chargers.
At match point, 14-13, PLDT opted for a mid-rally challenge against a supposed net touch by Akari’s Ezra Madrigal. The challenge, though, was deemed unsuccessful, which awarded the Chargers a crucial point that set up their comeback.
Making matters more controversial, there was a lack of real-time explanations, and the traditional replay of the contested call on the broadcast. And while FIVB provisions were cited post-game, the damage had been done to both PLDT and the local volleyball community.
A social media storm followed afterward, with criticisms aimed at the Chargers and the PVL’s handling of the high-stakes incident. Understandably, the issues remained a hot topic even as the PVL moved on to its ongoing 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference.
The league, though, has several initiatives in place to avoid a repeat of their incident. However, it was also something that threatened to end the PVL’s fast-rising popularity at the time.
Eya Laure’s contract dispute
Amid the 2024-2025 AFC offseason, multiple reports surfaced about Eya Laure’s impending exit from the Chery Tiggo Crossovers following her Alas Pilipinas commitments.
However, it turns out that Eya’s departure wouldn’t be as simple as a contract termination. While it was neither confirmed nor denied by Chery’s management, reports stated that a non-compete clause is in play, which prevents her from signing with a new team until a resolution is reached.
As of the All-Filipino Conference press launch last November 4, negotiations were still underway between Eya’s camp and the Crossovers regarding an amicable separation.
Hopefully, this contract issue will be resolved in no time. After all, Eya Laure is one of the Philippines’ best volleyball talents, and it would be a welcome sight to see her once more on the taraflex.
Bryan Bagunas’ gruesome injury
The men’s volleyball scene wasn’t spared from a major blow either in 2024 after Bryan Bagunas’ left knee injury in the SEA V.League men’s division in Manila. The well-traveled star had an awkward landing following his jump serve, which caused his left knee to buckle in the fourth set.
Bagunas’ injury couldn’t have come at a better time, given the Philippines’ hosting duties at the FIVB Men’s World Championships in September 2025. Sure, it’s still a year away, but related parties have also remained mum about specific details regarding the injury. From timetables to the nature of his injury, all have been withheld from public consumption.
But on the flip side, Bagunas shared in a recent Spikers Turf appearance that he is already in the process of therapy and strengthening his left knee for an on-court return.
What’s in store for 2025?
Twenty-twenty-five will be another interesting year for Philippine volleyball, which will be headlined by two international events: the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in September, and the Southeast Asian Games in December.
Can Alas Pilipinas Men put up a valiant fight in the MWCH? Or perhaps the Alas Pilipinas women can finally snag a medal in the regional meet in Thailand.
Over in the PVL, can Creamline defend its All-Filipino crown once more? And in the collegiate leagues, will NU go back-to-back, while the NCAA teams continue their dynasties under a younger core?
This year was by no means a perfect one, but it does shape up the excitement for Philippine volleyball heading into the new year. From a rebooted national team to the best professional and collegiate programs, we now eagerly await their next chapter as 2025 kicks off a few days from now.
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League, UAAP Media Bureau, and the Asian Volleyball Confederation.