“We will play, let’s see”: PNVF president keeps Alas Pilipinas expectations measured ahead of AVC Cup

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks amid growing concerns over athlete welfare, program structure, and its proposed draft system for the Alas Pilipinas Women.

At the center of the debate is the reported draft mechanism for the national women’s program, which includes provisions requiring invited players to commit exclusively to the national team pool. The proposal has sparked discussion across the local volleyball community, with stakeholders raising questions about player autonomy, eligibility, and long-term athlete welfare.

PNVF president Ramon “Tonyboy” Liao has moved to address the issue while steering attention back to competition, emphasizing that the immediate focus remains on preparation for the upcoming 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Volleyball Cup. The continental tournament will be hosted in the Philippines in June, with Alas Pilipinas Women entering the competition following a silver-medal finish in the 2025 edition.

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Liao stressed that while expectations are naturally elevated due to the team’s recent success and home-court advantage, the federation is not imposing rigid targets on the squad.

“I don’t want to maybe say na we will copy what was garnered the last time. So ang amin is, we will play, and let’s see from then kung anong magiging resulta ng ating games,” Liao said in a press conference.

PNVF President Tonyboy Liao gave updates on the preparations of Alas Pilipinas for the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup.

Liao said he does not want to set expectations for Alas following their silver medal finish in the 2025 edition. | via @PaigeJavier pic.twitter.com/T3FpbyWjjl

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The Philippines has been placed in a highly competitive Group A alongside Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Australia, and Uzbekistan. Liao acknowledged the difficulty of the draw, noting that all participating teams bring strong credentials into the tournament.

“If you look at it, kahit saan ka mapunta, Pool A or Pool B, parang mabigat. Looking at it, parang the four teams are really, like in our pool, we have Korea and Chinese Taipei, and then Australia. The other side naman, you have Vietnam, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

“So these are really countries na malalakas din ang women’s team. Pero siyempre, yung atin naman Alas Women’s Team, we always prepare for these kind of events. So hopefully, pagdating ng tournament sa Candon, this coming June, maganda na maging preparation,” he added.

Liao also addressed the transition in leadership, particularly the appointment of head coach Tai Bundit following the departure of Brazilian tactician Jorge de Brito. Known for his intense coaching style and high expectations, Bundit is expected to begin shaping the team’s system in the coming training phase.

“Coach Tai Bundit is sabihin nating he hates losing, as you know. So talagang ang preparation niya will be especially ngayon, ang tinitingnan kasi niya na past performance was silver. So parang challenge na kagad siya. Sabi ko, huwag muna iisipin yan. Banuin muna natin yung team at saka tayo mag-training ng mga ano,” Liao said.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the PNVF has already begun assembling its training pool, sending out invitations to potential Alas Pilipinas Women prospects. The federation is awaiting confirmations from clubs and universities, with national team training expected to begin in the coming weeks.

The 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup is scheduled from June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, where Alas Pilipinas Women will aim to build on their recent podium finish while navigating both heightened expectations and internal program challenges.

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