Alas Pilipinas prepares for SEA Games amid player pool chaos and last-minute uncertainty

The women’s national volleyball team is bracing for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with more questions than answers, as Alas Pilipinas finds itself weeks away from competition without a finalized player pool — and with training sessions often running with just “two to four” available athletes.

What was once a 23-player list submitted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has now dissolved into a revolving door of additions, removals, and last-minute changes. 

The instability has left both coaches and the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in a holding pattern.

“Wala pa. None yet,” PVL president and PNVF board member Ricky Palou confirmed when asked if a current player pool exists. The initial roster, he said, was effectively scrapped due to multiple overhauls.

“Nagpalit ulit sila eh. They removed some, they added some,” Palou explained, citing players like Thea Gagate, who appeared in the first list but is no longer included. “May mga ganun na pinalitan sila.”

Clubs Have Full Control Over Player Availability

Making matters even more complicated, athletes from PVL clubs may only join Alas once their teams are eliminated from the ongoing Reinforced Conference. With playoff matches extending to November 30 and the national team flying to Thailand in the first week of December, the window for meaningful preparation has nearly closed.

Moreover, club teams are not obligated to lend their players.

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NAGPAPALAKAS ANG ALAS

The Alas Pilipinas Women share some training snaps from today as they continue to gear up for the upcoming 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this December.#AlasPilipinas #SEAGames

Alas Pilipinas Volley pic.twitter.com/RAI9kExdMs

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) November 17, 2025

“It’s up to them if they want to lend or not kasi the players are under contract with the PVL,” Palou clarified. “Although we’re trying to encourage the team owners na pahiram niya naman sa national team.”

He emphasized the bigger picture: a SEA Games podium finish would reflect positively on the league, proving that PVL athletes can bring home medals for the Philippines. But persuasion is the only tool available — not mandate.

De Brito Manages Training Sessions With “2-4 Players”

If the lack of roster stability has frustrated fans, the reality inside the training gym has been even more stark. Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza de Brito revealed that practices have been far from ideal.

“We keep on training with two guys sometimes, sometimes four, sometimes three, but we are always there,” he shared. Despite the minimal turnout, the staff has persisted, adjusting daily to whichever players appear.

With time running out, De Brito admitted that they may have to pull from the original 25-player list again — but only if clubs allow their athletes to go.

“Probably, we’ll have some additions from our original 25 players from the lineup,” he said. “Let’s be honest, I need feedback from them and also if the clubs would let them join. That’s our national team.”

No More Training Camps, No Clear Lineup — But No Quit

Unlike the men’s team, which has already traveled to Taiwan for a training camp, the women’s team no longer has the luxury of staging one due to the tight schedule.

But even as preparations remain chaotic, De Brito refuses to let the disarray dampen his belief in the team’s potential.

“It’s still hard. We’re going to fight and it’s more for the flag,” he stressed. For him, composure matters — but ambition matters more.

“You help the national team to keep on getting results sometimes. And with the caliber of the players that we have, you cannot just stick to ‘happy for the bronze’ or ‘happy for the final.’”

A National Team Built on Uncertainty — and Resolve

As the SEA Games near, Alas Pilipinas stands on uneven ground: incomplete roster, limited training time, uncertain club support. Yet within the chaos, both federation officials and coaches cling to what remains constant — the players’ willingness to fight once they finally assemble.

If nothing else, the story of Alas this year may not be about perfect preparation, but about making something out of a fragmented, rapidly shifting reality.

And in international sport, grit has saved teams before.

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