Philippines women's national volleyball team

The Philippines women's national volleyball team represents the Philippines in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches, governed by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation since 2021.

Philippines' highest achievement was qualifying for and competing at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship in the 1974 edition, where they finished at 18th place.

History
The Philippine national team was formerly organized and sanctioned by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF), originally known as the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAVA) from 1961 to 2003. The team was a regional powerhouse in Southeast Asia, having won gold medals at the 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1993 editions of the Southeast Asian Games. The Philippines also had its first and only FIVB Volleyball World Championship participation in 1974.

The national team had its last gold medal finish at the Southeast Asian Games under Russian-Latvian head coach Staņislavs Lugailo, who was part of the Soviet Union men's national team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and was hired to lead the team in 1990. He further guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games. The team later had a training camp in Japan in 1992, where it played games against Japanese volleyball clubs. Lyugailo led the national team to win another gold medal finish at the Southeast Asian Games in 1993 after defeating defending champions Thailand in the final. Thailand would later defeat the Philippines in the next gold medal match in the Games' 1995 edition. The Philippines failed to duplicate its gold medal games for the next editions of the Southeast Asian Games, with Thailand establishing dominance in women's volleyball in the region.

The Philippine national team did not see international play after the 2005 edition of the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Championships. They won a bronze medal at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. They would make a comeback at the Asian Championships in 2013 and at the Southeast Asian Games in 2015 respectively.

In 2014, the PVF lost recognition by the Philippine Olympic Committee after a leadership crisis. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) recognized the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) as its provisional member in 2015, effectively taking over the PVF's mandate. The LVPI was allowed to send and organize national volleyball teams, including the women's team, to FIVB tournaments in the next few years.

After failing to get a podium finish at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, it was decided that the national team coached by Roger Gorayeb would be disbanded. However, it was later decided that Gorayeb would remain as coach of the national team's participation in another tournament, the 2015 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup. The team was without many of its players that played in the Southeast Asian Games and finished last out of six teams.

In 2021, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) was formed and was given full FIVB membership, replacing the LVPI as the volleyball federation for volleyball in the Philippines.

The Philippines secured their first ever podium finish in an AVC tournament when they finished as third placers in the 2024 AVC Women's Challenge Cup, which was hosted by Manila.

Names
The Philippine women's national team is known by their moniker "Alas Pilipinas", with Alas meaning "Ace" in Filipino. The nickname is an official designation by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation in partnership with sponsor Cignal TV. Adopted on May 15, 2024, the moniker is shared by the Philippines' men's national team.

The preceding moniker for the women's team was short-lived; Amihan (lit. 'northeast monsoon'), adopted in 2015 when the national team was still under the Philippine Volleyball Federation and team sponsor PLDT Inc..

FIVB Senior World Ranking
The new calculation method of the FIVB Senior World Rankings started on January 1, 2019, granted all nations automatic world ranking (WR) 100 points, in addition to the score from the previous FIVB World Ranking. The new calculation provides that any inactive nation every January 1 will lose 50 WR points for the next year. An inactive team reaching a WR score of less than 20 WR points will be removed from the ranking list. Due to inactivity or non-participation in annual FIVB-sanctioned events since 2019, the Philippines lost 100 WR points and was removed from the world rankings. The Philippine women's national volleyball team became active again in an FIVB-sanctioned event during the 2023 AVC Women's Challenge Cup, hence their reinstatement in the world rankings with 50 WR points.

Summary of competitions
The following table shows the summary of competitions of the Philippines women's national volleyball team in every FIVB-sanctioned event, where it shows the team's standings, results, and the changes in their world ranking score before and after the competition.
 * Note:
 * a.The 50 points are guaranteed with the intent to compete but are yet to be reinstated in the world rankings before the competition.

Current squad
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2014 FIVB Women's World Championship qualification (AVC-Southeastern Zonal)

 * Đà Lạt 2013
 * (1) Rubie De Leon C, (2) Alyja Daphne Santiago, (3) Suzanne Roces, (4) Iari Yongco, (5) Maria Paulina Soriano, (7) Maika Angela Ortiz, (10) Rhea Katrina Dimaculangan, (11) Myla Pablo, (12) Jennylyn Reyes L, (14) Angelique Beatrice Dionela L, (16) Aleona Denise Santiago
 * Head coach: Roger Gorayeb

2006 FIVB Women's World Championship AVC Qualification

 * 🇹🇭 Thailand 2006
 * (1) Rubie De Leon, (3) Ruby May Rovira, (4) Marietta Carolino, (6) Johanna Carpio, (7) Cristina Salak, C (8) Roxanne Pimentel, (9) Michelle Carolino, (10) Maureen Penetrante, (11) Cherry Rose Macatangay, (12) Patricia Siatan, (14) Monica Aleta, L (16) Shermain Miles Penano.
 * Head coach: Ramil De Jesus

2018 Asian Games
Coaching staff Cesael delos Santos Emilio Reyes Jr. Brian Esquibel
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

2023 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2017 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship
Coaching staff Francis Vicente Brian Esquibel Zenaida Chavez
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff Danilo E. Ignacio
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff Raul Alcantara Ronald Dulay Emilio Reyes
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

2015 Asian Women's Championship
Coaching staff Sinfronio "Sammy" Acaylar (CIG) Francis Vicente (PHG) Rosemarie Prochina (MNT) Benson Bocboc (SHP)
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team Staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical Staff Marie Ong
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist:

2013 Asian Women's Championship
Coaching staff Ernesto Pamilar Norman Miguel
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach:

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist:

2022 Asian Women's Volleyball Cup
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2018 Asian Women's Volleyball Cup
Coaching staff Cesael delos Santos Erickson Ramos
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

2024 AVC Challenge Cup
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2023 AVC Challenge Cup
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2023 Southeast Asian Games
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2021 Southeast Asian Games
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2019 Southeast Asian Games
Coaching staff Cesael delos Santos Erickson Ramos
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

2017 Southeast Asian Games
Coaching staff Francis Vicente Brian Esquibel Zenaida Chavez
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff Danilo E. Ignacio
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff Raul Alcantara Ronald Dulay Emilio Reyes
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

(source)

2015 Southeast Asian Games
Coaching staff Roger Gorayeb 🇹🇭 Anusorn Bundit Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist:

2005 Southeast Asian Games

 * Manila 2005 — Bronze_medal_icon_(B_initial).svg Bronze medal
 * Cristina Salak, Mary Jean Balse, Rubie De Leon, Maureen Penetrante, Cherry Rose Macatangay, Michelle Carolino, Mayeth Carolino, Joanna Botor, Amy Guanco, Roxanne Pimentel, Monica Aleta,
 * Head coach: Ramil De Jesus

1983 Southeast Asian Games

 * 🇸🇬 Singapore 1983 — [[File:Med 2.png]] Silver medal
 * Lita Dela Cruz, Grace R. Antigua, Julie Dela Cruz, Thelma Barina, Josefina Paulita, Josefin Maranga, Ma. Lourdes Jao, Violeta Rastullo, Noraida Lorosa, Arlene Apostal, Ofelia Tamonan, Lynette Amancio

First Leg
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

Second Leg
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

2022 ASEAN Grand Prix
The following persons were assigned by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation as part of the coaching staff.

First leg
Coaching staff Cesael delos Santos Erickson Ramos
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

Second leg
Coaching staff Cesael delos Santos Erickson Ramos Emilio Reyes Jr Brian Esquildel
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team staff
 * Team Manager:
 * Team Utility:

Medical staff Clarence Estban
 * Team Physician:
 * Physical Therapist/Trainer:

2015 VTV Cup
Coaching staff Roger Gorayeb Nes Pamilar Parley Tupas
 * Head Coach:
 * Assistant Coach(s):

Team captains
The following players served as team captains of the senior national team:
 * Cristina Salak – 2005–2006
 * Angeli Tabaquero – 2013
 * Rubie De Leon – 2014
 * Michele Gumabao – 2015 (2015 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship)
 * Jovelyn Gonzaga – 2015 (2015 SEA Games)
 * Mika Reyes – 2017
 * Aby Maraño – 2018–2021
 * Alyssa Valdez – 2023 (2023 SEA Games)
 * Aiza Maizo-Pontillas – 2023 (2023 AVC Women's Challenge Cup)
 * Camilla Lamina – 2023 (2023 SEA Women's V.League; 2023 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship)
 * Jia De Guzman – 2022; 2024–present

Coaches
The following were head coaches of the senior national team:

Former notable players

 * Aby Maraño
 * Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
 * Alyssa Valdez
 * Angeli Tabaquero
 * Angelique Dionela
 * Arlene Apostol-Ladimo
 * Cha Cruz-Behag
 * Chie Saet
 * Cherry Rose Macatangay
 * Cristina Salak
 * Denden Lazaro-Revilla
 * Dindin Santiago-Manabat
 * Frances Molina
 * Ging Balse
 * Grace Antigua
 * Grethcel Soltones
 * Jan Buquid
 * Kalei Mau
 * Kath Arado
 * Kim Fajardo
 * Kim Kianna Dy
 * Maika Ortiz
 * Majoy Baron
 * Maureen Penetrante
 * Mayeth Carolino
 * Michele Gumabao
 * Michelle Carolino
 * Mika Reyes
 * Monica Aleta
 * Myla Pablo
 * Mylene Paat
 * Natalie Cruz
 * Nory Laroza
 * Jaja Santiago
 * Jeanette Panaga
 * Joanne Tavera-Tomacruz
 * Jovelyn Gonzaga
 * Pau Soriano
 * Rachel Daquis
 * Rhea Dimaculangan
 * Ria Meneses
 * Rosemarie Molit-Prochina
 * Roxanne Pimentel
 * Rubie De Leon
 * Sue Roces
 * Tatan Gata-Pantone
 * Teresita Abundo
 * Thelma Barina-Rojas
 * Vangie de Jesus
 * Zenaida Ybañez-Chavez