On the back of a productive year that saw Alas Pilipinas Men make steady gains across multiple international tournaments, Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Anthony “Tony Boy” Liao said the federation is planning to extend the contract of head coach Angiolino Frigoni.
“Actually, sabi nga nila, why do you have to change a jockey when your horse is winning?” Liao said.
Liao pointed to continuity as a key factor behind the team’s progress, noting that there is little reason to make a change given the program’s positive trajectory.
The newly-elected PNVF president added that the federation plans to open extension talks with the Italian coach once he returns to the country in the final week of January following his holiday break.
Frigoni, now in his second year at the helm of Alas Men, is currently under contract until July 2026.
Liao explained that discussions will focus on what would be most beneficial for both the coach and the national team moving forward, stressing that Frigoni’s body of work has earned the federation’s confidence.
(C) POC Media
“Kasi ang kontrata naman niya hanggang July 2026 eh,” said Liao. “So pag-uusapan namin anong pinakamagandang mangyari. Pero definitely, sa ginagawa naman niya, I think mae-extend ‘yan dahil maganda ang performance.
“So syempre pagbalik na niya, kasi pagbalik ng Pilipinas, he’s gonna go home to Italy for the Christmas season. He’ll be back by last week of January, we’ll sit down and talk again,” he added.
Frigoni, who assumed the post from Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso in June 2024, has since transformed the national team into a competitive unit capable of holding its own on the international stage.
He steered the Philippines to a memorable campaign in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, which went down as one of the best Cinderella stories in the country’s volleyball history.
Only qualified by virtue of being the host nation, Alas Men stunned the global field by upsetting African champions Egypt — a team previously coached by Frigoni — and pushing Iran to a thrilling five-set match, coming just a point away from advancing to the Round of 16.
The Nationals eventually finished the 32-team world tilt in 19th place.
In the recently concluded 33rd Southeast Asian Games, Frigoni led Alas Men back to the podium for the first time since 2019, orchestrating a massive come-from-behind victory over Vietnam after falling into a 0–2 deficit to claim the bronze medal.
“So okay, nandiyan si Coach Angiolino [Frigoni]. Nag-bronze tayo. Hindi naman malungkot kasi bronze lang. Bronze is always a bronze ‘di ba? Like we never had a medal in the SEA Games. The last time was 2019,” Liao said.
“So I think we will stick with him and maganda naman — yung mga bata naman gusto rin siya. Kaya walang problema.”
