PNVF, PVL partner to strengthen Philippine women’s volleyball pipeline

Newly elected Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tony Boy Liao recently confirmed plans to address the federation’s longstanding differences with the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), a move aimed at strengthening the development pipeline for the national team following the country’s performance at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Bangkok, Thailand.

While 2025 has been a generally productive year for Philippine women’s volleyball, the SEA Games marked a notable setback. Alas Pilipinas, the national women’s squad, finished fourth in Bangkok, extending the country’s volleyball medal drought at the SEA Games to 20 years. This came despite earlier successes in the year, including a historic silver medal at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup and two bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Volleyball League, which demonstrated the team’s growing competitiveness in regional competitions.

During the tenure of former PNVF president Tats Suzara, tensions reportedly arose between the federation and the PVL over the release of top professional players for national team duty. Of the 14 players on the SEA Games roster, nine were drawn from the PVL, highlighting the league’s importance to national team success. However, scheduling conflicts, particularly during the critical May-to-September international window, frequently became a source of friction between PVL team owners and the national federation. These conflicts occasionally hindered the national team’s preparation for international tournaments.

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Upon taking office, Tony Boy Liao emphasized collaboration and unity as central pillars of his leadership. In line with this vision, the PNVF has now announced a formal partnership with the PVL, designed to foster closer coordination between the federation and the country’s premier professional volleyball league. The goal is to ensure that national team selections are streamlined, players are available for key international competitions, and the overall talent pool for Philippine women’s volleyball continues to grow.

Under this partnership, PVL players will be invited to try out for the Alas Pilipinas women’s team, giving professional athletes the opportunity to compete for national team spots in a structured and transparent process. The tryouts will also be open to standout athletes from collegiate and university programs, allowing the federation to identify promising talent across multiple levels of Philippine volleyball.

ONE PATH FOR THE FLAG 🏐

The PNVF and PVL have formalized a partnership that will open an invitational tryouts to PVL and collegiate players, creating a “unified pathway” for volleyball talents to be part of the Alas Pilipinas women’s team.#AlasPilipinas #PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/JPFUBsXuX9

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 16, 2026

“As part of this collaboration, an invitational tryout for the Alas Pilipinas women’s team will open to PVL players. It will also be open to athletes from university and collegiate programs,” the PNVF stated.

The federation added: “This partnership is a significant step toward the betterment of Philippine volleyball, strengthening collaboration between national, professional, and collegiate programs. Together, PNVF and PVL are committed to developing elite athletes, expanding opportunities, and building a stronger future for Philippine volleyball.”

Volleyball analysts say the move could be a turning point for the sport in the Philippines, as it not only addresses historical scheduling and player availability conflicts but also creates a clearer pathway from collegiate and professional programs to the national team. By widening the pool of eligible players and formalizing coordination between leagues, the PNVF-PVL partnership may help ensure that the national team can compete at the highest level in upcoming regional and international tournaments, including the Asian Games and future SEA Games editions.

For Tony Boy Liao and the PNVF, the collaboration signals a new era of unity and strategic planning in Philippine volleyball. With professional, collegiate, and national programs now working in tandem, the federation aims to build a sustainable system that nurtures talent, develops elite athletes, and restores the country’s standing in regional and global competitions.

As preparations ramp up for the next SEA Games cycle, volleyball fans across the Philippines will be watching closely, hopeful that this strengthened partnership will finally end decades of near-misses and deliver lasting success for Alas Pilipinas.

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