A 14-woman Alas Pilipinas lineup was already submitted to the organizers of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games as early as September, newly-elected Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Anthony "Tony Boy" Liao revealed early Saturday morning.
The clarification was sought since the final Alas Women roster is still unclear and the team has yet to train at full strength just over two weeks before the start of their first SEA Games match on December 11.
"Alam na nila kung sino yung 14. Ba't mo pa pipilitin mag-ensayo lahat?" Liao told reporters early Saturday.
A 20-woman pool was released late October by the PNVF, under then President Ramon "Tats" Suzara.
However, Premier Volleyball League (PVL) President Ricky Palou said on Thursday that they have yet to receive a roster of players and that the pool had "changed."
"Siyam lang ata silang nagpa-practice," Liao said. "I have the lineup. Yung nine na 'yun... I think anim lang ata naka-lineup sa SEA Games eh."
[ALSO READ: PVL chairman Tony Boy Liao replaces Tats Suzara as PNVF president]
Here's what we know based on what has been made public.
Liao: 14 names were submitted to the SEA Games by September
In the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, athletes have to be registered in the short list—the Entry Form by Name—from August 1 until September 1.
New PNVF president Liao, who is a longtime executive of the PVL, said he has a copy of those names but chose not to disclose it.
A short list submitted by the national sports federations to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) listed Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Dawn Catindig, Jia de Guzman, Maddie Madayag, Vanie Gandler, Justine Jazareno, Eya Laure, Shaina Nitura, Dell Palomata, Amie Provido, Alyssa Solomon, Alleiah Malaluan, and Mars Alba as part of the indoor women's volleyball team.
It is not yet clear whether this list sent to the PSC/POC, which was made available to the media, is the same 14-woman lineup Liao referred to.
PNVF announced a 20-woman pool by late October
However, the 14-person list was not announced by the PNVF.
The national volleyball federation, which was headed by Ramon "Tats" Suzara at the time, released a 20-woman pool on October 28.
The expanded pool featured the 14 players in the short list, as well as Julia Coronel, Jen Nierva, Kat Tolentino, Leila Cruz, Thea Gagate, and Fifi Sharma.
[ALSO READ: Jia De Guzman leads Alas Pilipinas Women pool for 2025 SEA Games in Thailand]
Palou: We have not received the roster yet
Nearly a month after the release of that 20-woman pool, PVL President Ricky Palou told reporters that the final lineup for the SEA Games is still unclear.
"We have not received the roster yet, which players are in the pool. I asked them to submit it to us. We are waiting for that," he said during the final day of the elimination round on November 20.
"Nagpalit ulit sila. They removed some and added some," Palou said. "I understand Gagate is not in the pool now. Pero in the first pool, nandun siya. May mga pinalitan sila."
@onesportsphl ‘THERE’S NO RESTRICTIONS.” PVL president Ricky Palou provides an update on the league’s players who will represent Alas Pilipinas Women at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December. | via Aivan Episcope/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #PVL2025 #SEAGames
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Can Alas change its lineup for the SEA Games?
Liao, replacing Suzara as PNVF president, said he asked about having a pool when the lineup was already submitted.
"Sinasabi nila, 'baka may injury', baka ganito, baka ganyan," he recounted to reporters. "'Pag nag-submit ka ng Entry by Name, mapapalitan mo lang 'yung na-injure sa general technical meeting ng managers during the SEA Games."
"Kung 'di injured, 'di mo pwedeng palitan 'yan."
He also mentioned of the attempt to include Fil-Am spiker Brooke Van Sickle in the lineup.
While Van Sickle's papers have been processed to change federations, there are still some steps that need to be taken.
"Alam naman nila 'yung regulation... nila-line up mo, alam mo 'di makakalaro," Liao said.
Alas Pilipinas Women yet to play at full strength
The Alas Pilipinas Women though have yet to train with a complete roster, with their first SEA Games match against host Thailand on December 11.
Recall that the national players were released as early as August, so the PVL players can play with their club teams for the Invitational Conference, on the condition that they train with Alas three times a week.
The SEA Games from December 9-20, which is not part of the FIVB calendar, does not fall in the national team window.
That turned into Sunday-Monday training, with multiple key players still involved with their mother teams in the knockout stage of the PVL Reinforced Conference.
At most, there were eight to nine players in a single training session, which includes Jia de Guzman and Eya Laure.
A training camp in Japan or Taiwan, which Suzara had announced, was scrapped.
"Too late na," Palou said on Thursday.
The PVL president emphasized that they have asked clubs to allow Alas Pilipinas players to train with the national team during the conference.
However, release from the clubs for full Alas focus could only be granted after the teams have exited the PVL Reinforced Conference.
Four teams have already been eliminated, which gives way for Coronel, Madayag, Tolentino, and Nierva to join the national team.
The quarterfinals will be on Monday, November 24. The final round will be on Sunday, November 30.
[ALSO READ: PVL teams free to release Alas Pilipinas Women players after Reinforced Conference—Palou]
@onesportsphl ‘WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR VOLLEYBALL, WE WILL PUSH THROUGH.’ 🏐🇵🇭 Newly elected PNVF president Anthony “Tonyboy” Liao discusses continuing the Alas Pilipinas program for the overall growth of Philippine volleyball, the PVL’s schedule and the national team calendar, and plans for a grassroots program to develop national team players from a young age. | via Jamie Velasco/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #AlasPilipinas #PNVF
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Alas Pilipinas Men in Taiwan
Meanwhile, the Alas Pilipinas Men are deep in their training camp in Taiwan, having played friendlies against the TSG Skyhalks, Chinese Taipei National Volleyball Team, and Taipower.
Liao said coach Angiolino Frigoni had asked for the players to be released by November 15 for training.
And Spikers’ Turf director Mozzy Ravena confirmed that the league is fully backing the national team’s campaign, allowing Alas players to leave mid-tournament.
[ALSO READ: Alas Men to start Spikers’ Turf campaign, exit mid-conference for SEA Games build-up]
The short list submitted to the PSC/POC includes the core of the Alas team which competed in the FIVB Men's World Championship: Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Kim Malabunga, Lloyd Josafat, Vince Lorenzo, Owa Retamar, Eco Adajar, Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, Peng Taguibolos, Josh Ybanez, Louie Ramirez, and Jade Disquitado.
Joining them is UST's Al-Bukharie Sali.
It is not clear whether this would be the final lineup for the SEA Games.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco, Luisa Morales, Kiko Demigillo/One Sports Digital)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.