A total of 17 members of the 22-player Alas Pilipinas Women pool have begun intensive preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the team now on its third day of training.
Already in camp are Creamline’s Jia De Guzman and Jennifer Nierva, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, ZUS Coffee’s Thea Gagate, Akari’s Mars Alba and Justine Jazareno, and Capital1’s Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos.
Also taking part in the training sessions are Choco Mucho’s Dawn Catindig and Eya Laure, along with National University’s Arah Panique, Shaira Jardio, Celine Marsh, and Vange Alinsug, along with free agents Alyssa Solomon and Niña Ytang.
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Still expected to join the team are Akari’s Fifi Sharma, La Salle standouts Angel Canino and Amie Provido, and PLDT’s Alleiah Malaluan, who continues to recover from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Adamson rookie Shaina Nitura remains sidelined as she recovers from surgery. Nxled setter Gel Cayuna has already begged off from national team duties, according to Chameleons head coach Ettore Guidetti.
The pool, under the supervision of the Philippine Olympic Committee and coached by Japanese mentor Taka Minowa, has been holding weekday training sessions from 12 noon to 3:00 PM. They alternated between Gameville in Mandaluyong City and MPire Center in Quezon City before eventually moving camp to the Philippine Sports Commission’s PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
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Alas Pilipinas Women will first compete in the Southeast Asian V.League, with Week 1 scheduled in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, from August 1 to 3 and Week 2 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from August 7 to 9. The team will then shift its focus to the Asian Games, which will be held from September 19 to October 4.
Meanwhile, the Alas Pilipinas Men have already arrived in Candon City for the Men’s SEA V.League, which will take place from July 15 to 19 at the Candon City Arena.
Both national teams are currently operating under the supervision of the POC following the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s suspension by the FIVB.
The world governing body has also reiterated its national team calendar, requiring players to prioritize international duty during the designated national team season — May 4 to October 4 for the women and May 18 to October 18 for the men — before returning to their respective domestic leagues once the national team window concludes.
