Can these Alas Pilipinas stars add to the Philippines’ medal tally in the SEA Games?
Alas Pilipinas seeks to end 2025 on a triumphant note as the country’s national volleyball teams carry the flag in the 33rd Southeast Games in Thailand.
In the indoor circuit, Alas Women look to end a 20-year medal drought, while Alas Men seek to carry the momentum from the FIVB Men’s World Championship for an elusive men’s volleyball gold.
It’s a similar story on the sand, where Alas Pilipinas Beach aim to add to the country’s medal tally in beach volleyball.
Is this the year for Alas Women?
Still leading Alas Women for this year’s SEA Games will be captain-setter Jia de Guzman, according to the list of athletes released by the Philippine Olympic Committee to the media on December 4.
Akari playmaker Mars Alba was tapped to back up De Guzman, and will look to carry the confidence gained from the Chargers’ PVL bronze medal finish to the regional meet. Along with her good ball distribution and solid floor defense, Alba has also shown her potential as a spiker, while sharing a similar style of setting with the longtime captain.
Leading their stacked wing spiker rotation will be Capital1 rookie Bella Belen and DLSU superstar Angel Canino, a Best Outside Hitter and Best Opposite Spiker winner in the AVC Nations Cup. Belen’s all-around game and Canino’s explosive offense has long been compared to that of a potential Ara Galang and Alyssa Valdez pairing due to their similar dynamics.
Eya Laure remains an integral part of the offense, bringing her trademark fighting spirit and clutch spiking to Alas Women, while reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura’s natural explosiveness and promising court smarts have translated quite well in international play.
Cignal star Vanie Gandler is also part of the lineup, along with PLDT rookie Alleiah Malaluan, who adds height accompanied by solid floor defense skills to the rotation.
Alyssa Solomon, now playing in Japan with Osaka Marvelous, is the lone natural opposite hitter in the lineup, bringing a refined skillset while firing from the right pin. Barring any last-minute changes, it’d be interesting as to who will be Solomon’s backup for this year’s SEA Games.
It’s the middle blocking rotation that received a slight makeover for the Nationals, with twin towers Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma being ruled out of the biennial meet.
Manning Alas’ frontline will be Choco Mucho pillar Maddie Madayag, who recently copped a Best Middle Blocker award in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. With a similar playstyle to the “Madzilla”, DLSU star and reigning UAAP Best Middle Blocker Amie Provido also received a call-up, and is expected to provide fresh legs and agility at the net. Dell Palomata, a pioneering Alas Women’s member, completes the middle blocking rotation.
Head coach Jorge de Brito seems to have struck gold in the Justine Jazareno and Dawn Macandili-Catindig pairing, as they have been retained for the SEA Games. Jazareno’s mix of hustle, court smarts, and agility has been invaluable in international play, while Macandili-Catindig continues to provide leadership and her own dose of veteran smarts.
Preparation woes aside, Alas Women has continued their upward trajectory for this year — a rise that is headlined by a historic silver in the AVC Nations Cup. By retaining a familiar core, perhaps 2025 will be the year for them to break a two-decade podium drought.
Alas Men: Bringing in lessons from the world stage
Unsurprisingly, Alas Men under head coach Angiolino Frigoni has retained much of their core from the FIVB Men’s World Championship last September.
Under the leadership of Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, Alas Men finished an impressive 19th among 32 teams in the World Championship, being the second-highest ranked Asian team behind regional powerhouse Iran.
As seen in the Worlds, Alas’ offense is led by Bagunas and National University star Leo Ordiales, with Espejo acting as the silent operator and closer in end-of-set situations. Backing them up will be Buds Buddin, Louie Ramirez, Jade Disquitado, and towering hitter Al-Bukharie Sali, the sole new addition to this core.
After underwhelming performances to start the year, Owa Retamar returned with a vengeance in the World Championship, proving that he’s still one of the Philippines’ top playmakers. Eco Adajar, meanwhile, gets the chance to soak up lessons from Retamar as a capable sub.
Kim Malabunga will return to lead the Nationals’ middle blocking trio that also includes Lloyd Josafat and Peng Taguibolos — a group that has proven to be more than capable in anchoring the net defense.
Having cemented his status as a world-class libero, UST star Josh Ybañez leads the floor defense duties, along with Cignal’s Vince Lorenzo. Gone from the libero pool is Jack Kalingking, whose slot was likely given to Sali in order to add more firepower on offense.
Another podium on the sand for Alas Beach?
The biggest names for Alas Pilipinas Beach will undoubtedly be the “SiPons” tandem of Bernadeth Pons and Sisi Rondina, who took a leave of absence from their PVL teams Creamline and Choco Mucho to prepare for their return to the sand.
Rondina and Pons are out for redemption for this year’s SEA Games after missing out on a third-straight bronze two years ago in Cambodia. Momentum should be on the duo’s side after ruling the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Invitationals last November.
Two-time SEA Games bronze medalist Dij Rodriguez completes the women’s team, along with beach volleyball mainstay Sunny Villapando and former UST Tiger Sands ace Gen Eslapor.
Leading the men’s team will be James Butraygo and Ran Abadilla, another pair of bronze medalists in the biennial meet. Behind the two veterans will be Ronniel Rosales, former National U stalwart Edwin Tolentino, and former UAAP Beach Volleyball MVP Rancel Varga.
Now, can our Alas Pilipinas teams finish the job on the sand and the Taraflex?
Banner images from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and Southeast Asian Volleyball Association on Facebook.