Philippine national volleyball team members during a press conference. According to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), the country’s national volleyball teams will now go by the monicker Alas Pilipinas. LANCE AGCAOILI/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Call the Philippine volleyball teams, Alas Pilipinas from now on.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and main sponsor Cignal unveiled the men’s and women’s squads’ new monicker on Wednesday at TV5 Media Center.
“We’re delighted to kickstart this new chapter for Philippine volleyball by unveiling Alas Pilipinas, our new names for the national teams both indoor and beach, and for both men and women. We’re humbled with the outpouring support that volleyball has garnered over the past few years and we believe that it’s high time for us to rally on one singular name for our national teams,” said PNVF president Ramon Suzara in the press launch accompanied by Vice President Ricky Palou, secretary general Don Caringal, and board member Tonyboy Liao.
The last time the volleyball teams had a monicker was back in 2015 when PLDT launched Amihan for women’s and Bagwis for men’s under the previous national sports Association Philippine Volleyball Federation but it didn’t push through.
Cignal has promised to provide comprehensive coverage of the volleyball events through the various MediaQuest platforms, primarily on Cignal TV platforms including Free-to-Air and Pay TV, and on OTT thru Pilipinas Live and social media through One Sports, One News, and News5.
“We’re proud partners of the PNVF in this noble endeavor and just like how we supported other sports, we have high hopes that we can further grow Philippine volleyball and push it to further heights,” said MediaQuest and Cignal TV president and CEO Jane J. Basas.
As the Filipino spikers begin their road to the country’s hosting of the 2024 FIVB Men’s World Championship, Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, who are champion players overseas, will banner the training pool in the upcoming international tournaments.
READ: Angel Canino, Bella Belen commit to play for PH team
Joining star outside hitters are Jau Umandal, Mark Calado, Louie Ramirez, Nico Almendras, Jade Disquitado, Noel Kampton, and reigning UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez.
Sherwin Umandal, the younger brother of Jau, and Leo Ordiales are the opposite spikers of the pool, while the middle blockers are Kim Malabunga, JP Bugaon, Lloyd Josafat, Choi Diao, and Peng Taguibolos.
Owa Retamar will be making his national team comeback with setters Joseph Bello and Adrian Villados, while liberos Vince Lorenzo and Menard Guerrero will be taking care of the nationals’ floor.
The men’s team will compete in the upcoming AVC Challenge Cup from June 2 to 9 in Bahrain.
READ: De Brito bares wishlist of players for AVC Challenge Cup
Meanwhile, college stars will banner the women’s campaign in the AVC Challenge Cup from May 22 to 29 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The last two UAAP MVPs Bella Belen and Angel Canino will team up for the first time alongside Alyssa Solomon, La Salle’s Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel, and University of the East super rookie Casiey Dongallo.
Denso Airybees and Creamline setter Jia De Guzman and Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag are also part of the roster which also includes PVL stars Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva of Chery Tiggo, Cignal’s Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, and Akari’s Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma.
The Philippines is in Pool A with Chinese Taipei, India, Iran, and Australia.
The Nationals placed seventh when De Brito and the core of the Akari Chargers competed last year in Indonesia.