Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Taka Minowa believes the national team’s silver-medal finish in the 2026 SEA V Cup was the product of a much bigger effort than just the players and coaches who were part of the campaign.

In a message posted on Facebook following the tournament, Minowa credited the countless players, coaches, and clubs that have helped Philippine volleyball become more competitive through the years.

“I believe this moment is not only about the players who are with us in the national team pool,” Minowa said after his debut stint with the national team.

“It is the result of the hard work of so many players, coaches, and clubs who have continued to develop and make Philippine volleyball more competitive over the years.”

Minowa, who previously handled Nxled and Akari in the Premier Volleyball League, was appointed as Alas Pilipinas head coach last June as the national team began preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later this year.

He pointed to the different levels of the sport — from grassroots programs and schools to collegiate competitions, local clubs, and professional teams — as crucial to the national team’s progress.

“From grassroots to school, collegiate, local clubs, and professional teams, every player and every coach has contributed something to Philippine volleyball,” said Minowa.

The Japanese coach also emphasized that the current generation of Alas Pilipinas players is standing on a foundation built by those who came before them, while recognizing the contributions of players who remain part of the national team pool even if they did not see action in the SEA V Cup.

“The players who are representing the country today are standing on the foundation that so many people have built before them,” Minowa said.

“And even the players who are currently in the pool but may not be on the court today have also worked hard and contributed to this journey.”

Alas Women finished as runners-up in the second leg of the SEA V Cup after taking down Indonesia, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31, in the virtual battle for silver last Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium.

“I hope everyone can be proud of the players and coaches who gave their time, effort, and heart to this team,” Minowa said.

“This achievement is the result of everyone’s hard work, and I’m very grateful to be part of this journey with all of you.”

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Eya Laure and Alyssa Solomon were named to the 2026 SEA V Cup Dream Team after standout performances helped Alas Pilipinas secure a historic silver medal in the tournament’s second leg on Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium.

The recognition marked Solomon’s second consecutive Best Opposite Spiker citation and fourth overall, after she earned the same award in the opening leg in Vietnam. Laure, meanwhile, secured her first Best Outside Hitter honor in the regional tournament.

Laure finished as the tournament’s third-leading scorer with 44 points, just one behind Vietnam’s Tran Thị Thanh Thuy and Pham Quynh Huong, who shared the top spot with 45 points apiece.

The Choco Mucho star bounced back from a slow start to the second leg, having scored just five points in the loss to Thailand before erupting for 22 against Vietnam. She then added 17 more points in the silver medal-clinching victory over Indonesia.

Solomon, on the other hand, ranked fourth in scoring with 42 points. The former National University standout was held to just six points against eventual champions Thailand but quickly found her rhythm. She ended up scoring 17 against Vietnam before finishing with 19 points against Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Thai star Sasipapron Janthawisut continued her stellar run in the tournament, claiming her second straight Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter awards.

She was joined by teammates Pornpun Guedpard, who earned the Best Setter plum, and Thatdao Nuekjang, who took one of the Best Middle Blocker spots, in the Dream Team.

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Bich Thuy claimed the other Best Middle Blocker citation, while Indonesia’s Indah Guretno was named Best Libero.

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Managing fatigue and ensuring a quick recovery will be among the first challenges for Alas Pilipinas Girls in the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship as the team embarks on a grueling 32-hour journey from Manila to Chile.

University of Santo Tomas’ Megan Yesha Hernandez, National University’s Xyz Ellen Rayco, King’s Montessori School’s Sharina Rhyza Lleses, Bacolod Tay Tung’s Cristina Madela Gale, and St. John’s Institute Bacolod City’s Caera Celis led the squad that departed on Monday for the 24-nation tournament, which will be held from August 6 to 16.

Coach Edwin Leyva believes the lengthy trip could work to the team’s advantage, giving the players valuable time to rest and strengthen their chemistry before the competition begins.

“Hopefully with the long flight medyo makabawi-bawi sa bonding yung players,” Leyva said. “We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for this, but we did our best in the short time we had, and I believe in this team. We have good players, and we are confident we can do better than our last tournament.”

Leyva, who steered the Philippines to a fifth-place finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation U16 Women’s Championship to secure a berth in the world meet, also called on Filipinos to rally behind the team.

“We hope the country would support us, pray for us,” Leyva said. “Kami naman we’ll give our best and put up a good fight for the country.”

Featuring standouts from some of the country’s top volleyball programs, Alas Pilipinas—backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Asics—also includes Ateneo’s Resty Jane Olaguir and Jhenica Sadia, UST’s Taj Arkhea Teves, Leyte National High School’s Nadeth Faye Herbon, and San Felipe Neri Catholic School’s Jello Andrea Mauricio.

The Philippines, ranked No. 25 in the world, also boasts National University’s Jhaynna Love Bulandres, Irish May Mahinay, Princess Khaira Manzano, and Frances Dianne Ramos. The Filipinas are drawn in Pool B alongside world No. 1 China, Mexico, Peru, Tunisia, and Venezuela.

Host Chile heads Pool A with Czechia, Egypt, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States. World No. 2 Japan leads Pool C, which also features Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Spain, and Poland. Third-ranked Italy tops Pool D with Korea, Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Chinese Taipei.

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