Alas Pilipinas Reveals Experienced Rosters for Aichi-Nagoya
Jia de Guzman and Bryan Bagunas headline the Philippine volleyball rosters submitted for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. The lists combine established national-team leaders, returning veterans, and younger players preparing for demanding continental assignments against strong Asian opposition.
POC Submission Reveals Likely Alas Pilipinas Rosters
John Mark Garcia of SPIN.ph reported that the Philippine Olympic Committee submitted the volleyball names ahead of the continental competition. Neither women’s coach Taka Minowa nor men’s mentor Angiolino Frigoni had formally confirmed their final lineups when the submission emerged.
The POC lists nevertheless provide the strongest indication of which players could represent the Philippines during the Asian Games. Both indoor squads feature established national-team foundations while combining experienced leaders with younger players gaining increasingly significant international responsibilities.
Image from: SPIN.ph
Coaches Had Yet to Confirm Final Asian Games Lineups
The distinction between submitted names and finalized lineups remains important until Minowa and Frigoni officially confirm their respective selections. Any subsequent roster changes could still reshape positional depth, rotation options, and tactical responsibilities before both teams begin continental competition.
De Guzman Leads Alas Women Into Difficult Pool
Captain Jia de Guzman headlines the women’s submission alongside Mars Alba, Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, and Thea Gagate. Justine Jazareno, Eya Laure, Dell Palomata, Amie Provido, Erika Santos, and Alyssa Solomon complete the POC-submitted women’s group.
Alas Women will face nine-time Asian Games champion China and Kazakhstan after returning to the continental competition following its 2018 appearance. That challenging pool places immediate importance on stable reception, disciplined serving, and efficient transition offense against experienced international opposition.
China and Kazakhstan Await Philippine Women’s Team
De Guzman’s international setting experience provides stability for a lineup combining established national-team pieces with several younger attacking options. Strong first contact will remain essential because consistent reception allows the Philippines to diversify its offense against imposing blocking systems.
Bagunas and Espejo Reunite for Alas Pilipinas Men
Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo headline the men’s submission, restoring two proven scorers with extensive Philippine national-team experience. Jude Garcia, Buds Buddin, Lloyd Josafat, Josh Magalaman, Lirick Mendoza, and Leo Ordiales provide additional options around the established veterans.
Peng Taguibolos, Adrian Villados, Greg Ancheta, and Josh Ybañez complete the POC-submitted group preparing for another demanding continental assignment. Their inclusion gives Frigoni multiple attacking profiles while reducing the need for Bagunas and Espejo to carry every difficult scoring responsibility.
China, Korea and Chinese Taipei Present Major Test
Alas Men will face China, Korea, and Chinese Taipei during a preliminary pool offering little margin for extended adjustment periods. Stable reception, disciplined blocking assignments, and balanced transition scoring will become important against opponents capable of exploiting prolonged execution breakdowns.
Asian Games Provides Major Test for Alas Program
The women’s tournament runs from September 16 through 22, giving Minowa’s squad the first opportunity to test Philippine progress. Men’s competition follows from September 27 through October 3, providing Frigoni additional preparation before his group begins its Asian Games campaign.
Beyond results, performance quality can provide another measure of how effectively recent international exposure has strengthened both Philippine national programs. Experienced leaders must stabilize difficult stretches while younger players demonstrate whether previous tournaments have improved their decision-making against stronger opposition.
Experienced Leaders Anchor Developing National-Team Cores
De Guzman, Bagunas, and Espejo provide international experience that could become particularly valuable when matches reach difficult tactical situations. Their leadership can support younger teammates while both programs evaluate depth, execution, and competitive consistency against established Asian opposition.
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Rondina and Pons Head Philippine Beach Volleyball Team
The Philippines will also field experienced combinations across the Asian Games beach volleyball tournaments during the Aichi-Nagoya competition. Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons headline the women’s contingent alongside Sofia Pagara and Khylem Progella for the continental campaign.
Ran Abdilla, James Buytrago, Lerry Francisco, and Ronniel Rosales comprise the Philippine men’s beach volleyball contingent heading to Japan. The beach competition runs from September 20 through October 3, overlapping portions of the country’s indoor volleyball schedule.
Philippine Beach Teams Add Another Continental Challenge
Rondina and Pons bring significant familiarity together, while Pagara and Progella recently gained valuable experience against continental opposition. Those competitive backgrounds provide useful preparation as the Philippine beach teams confront another demanding Asian field during the multi-sport event.
Analytical Breakdown: Ready for Asia’s Best
The Asian Games will provide the clearest assessment yet of Alas Pilipinas’ progress because both national teams will face opponents consistently competing among Asia’s strongest volleyball programs. Experienced leaders such as Jia de Guzman, Bryan Bagunas, and Marck Espejo will play important roles in helping younger teammates manage the tactical and emotional demands of continental competition.
While advancing from difficult preliminary groups remains a significant challenge, sustained competitiveness should be viewed as an equally meaningful objective for both squads. If the Philippines maintains disciplined first contact, efficient transition offense, and consistent defensive execution, these rosters can establish another important step in the national program’s long-term international development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads Alas Pilipinas Women at the Asian Games?
Captain Jia de Guzman headlines the POC-submitted women’s roster alongside Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Eya Laure, and Alyssa Solomon.
Are Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo playing together again?
Bagunas and Espejo are both included in the men’s roster submitted for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games competition.
Who will Alas Pilipinas Women face?
The Philippine women’s team has been grouped with nine-time Asian Games champion China and Kazakhstan during the preliminary stage.
Who will Alas Pilipinas Men face?
Alas Pilipinas Men will compete against China, Korea, and Chinese Taipei during their challenging Asian Games preliminary pool.
Who represents the Philippines in beach volleyball?
Rondina, Pons, Pagara, Progella, Abdilla, Buytrago, Francisco, and Rosales comprise the POC-submitted Philippine beach volleyball contingent.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from Tiebreaker Times.
