Alas men, women make Asiad grade

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has qualified its men’s and women’s teams in indoor volleyball at the Nagoya-Aichi 20th Asian Games this September, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Monday.

“This is great news for our volleyball program,” said Tolentino, adding the POC received the email from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) on the country’s qualification for the Asiad over the weekend.

The Alas Women made the cut based on its FIVB ranking in Asia at No. 10 and the Alas Men at No. 15.

There will be 16 teams each in the men’s and women’s categories in Asian Games volleyball to be played at the Aichi Prefecture from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.

The qualified men’s teams are Japan, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Qatar, Bahrain, Chinese-Taipei, India, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

Competing in the women’s side are Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, Qatar, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mongolia and North Korea.

AVC president Ramon “Tats” Suzara confirmed the good news to Tolentino, whose POC is bound to be the “caretaker” of the country’s volleyball affairs following the FIVB’s suspension of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

The indoor volleyball teams’ qualification completes the Philippine entries in the sport in the Asian Games after the beach volleyball squads – led by Bangkok 2025 Southeast Asian Games champions Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons – made it to the 12-country competition.

Meanwhile, Niña Ytang, Lara Mae Silva and Natalie Estreller withdrew from the PVL rookie draft to join Alas in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup set June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

Alyssa Solomon backed out a day earlier, opting to focus on national team duties.