With no more tournaments left on the national team calendar, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation has opted to release Alas Pilipinas Women players early, allowing them to return to their mother clubs.
PNVF chairman for national teams and Premier Volleyball League president Ricky Palou confirmed the development on Thursday night during the PLDT-Chery Tiggo match, where national team members Alleiah Malaluan and Jennifer Nierva suited up.
“President Tats Suzara of PNVF released the players to the clubs, so they were allowed to play na. I think they had a meeting the other night, that’s when he announced na all the national team players could go back to their clubs and play,” Palou told reporters.
“The national team period is up to October 15, but wala nang laro eh. It was why hold them? So that’s what we were discussing with President Tats Suzara. Sabi niya, wala nang game, so pwede nang bumalik. Why will we hold on to them if the club thinks we need them? Very accommodating si President Tats Suzara,” he added.
Despite the early release, Alas players are still required to train with the national team three times a week as part of their build-up for the Southeast Asian Games later this year. The team is also planning to hold an overseas training camp before the biennial meet in Thailand.
(C) PVL Images
“I think, yeah, they will be practicing. Ang usapan namin is I think that the teams, they will allow the national team players to train with the national team three times a week until the end of this tournament,” said Palou.
“After that, may plano pa ata silang to train abroad but they’re looking for a schedule for when they can do that,” he added.
The 17 players released include Mars Alba, Justine Jazareno, and Fifii Sharma of Akari; Tia Andaya and Maddie Madayag of Choco Mucho; Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips of Petro Gazz; Julia Coronel of Galeries Tower; and Thea Gagate of ZUS Coffee.
Cignal’s Vanie Gandler and Dawn Catindig sat out the HD Spikers’ loss to Creamline, while Jia De Guzman is not part of the Cool Smashers’ lineup for the Invitational tournament.
Also in the pool are Dell Palomata of PLDT, along with top overall pick Bella Belen and Leila Cruz of Capital1.
“Kaya yung usapan namin is, until Southeast Asian [Games], until our Reinforced Conference will end, end of November,” said Palou.
“During the Reinforced Conference, where it’s going on, the players will still practice with the national team three times a week. Tapos, at the end of November, dirediresto na sila sa national team practices.”
#WATCH: PVL President and PNVF Chairman for National Teams Ricky Palou explains that the early release of Alas players happened since there are no more tournaments left for the national team 🏐
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVLInvitational pic.twitter.com/XpJqxedbUn
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 21, 2025
