CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Alas Pilipinas aims to return to the podium as the first leg of the 2026 Southeast Asian Volleyball Cup men’s tournament gets underway on Wednesday at the Candon City Arena.
Leading the national team are 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship veterans Louie Ramirez, Lloyd Josafat, Vince Lorenzo, and Josh Ybañez.
Also making his highly anticipated indoor national team debut is five-time Spikers’ Turf Most Valuable Player Jude Garcia, who previously helped the Philippine beach volleyball team capture the bronze medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippines finished fourth in both legs of the 2025 edition of the tournament, then known as the SEA V.League.
Alas Pilipinas opens its Group B campaign on Wednesday against Cambodia at 5:30 p.m. in the tournament, which offers valuable FIVB World Ranking points.
Thailand, the reigning first-leg champion from 2025, will kick off the competition against Vietnam in the Group A opener at 2 p.m.
This year’s field has expanded to six teams with the addition of Myanmar, making the regional tournament hosted by Candon City Mayor Eric Singson and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee even more competitive.
Myanmar joins Thailand and Vietnam in Group A, while Indonesia completes Group B alongside the Philippines and Cambodia.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, with the medal matches set for Sunday.
Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara expressed his gratitude to the City of Candon, led by Singson, for its continued support of volleyball after successfully hosting several international tournaments across different age groups.
“My heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Eric Singson and the Local Organizing Committee for their outstanding efforts in staging this event. Following the successful hosting of the AVC Women’s Cup, Candon City has once again demonstrated its capability and passion for delivering world-class international volleyball competitions,” said Suzara.
Meanwhile, Singson emphasized the impact of hosting international sporting events on the city’s development.
“Hosting this prestigious championship for the second consecutive year is another significant milestone for Candon City and reflects the confidence entrusted to us in staging international sporting events,” said Singson.
“It also provides Candon City the opportunity to represent the Philippines by sharing the warmth of Filipino hospitality while advancing sports tourism as a catalyst for economic growth, cultural exchange, and community development.”
