All news tagged AlasPilipinasWomen

They were down a set. They were pushed to the brink. Then Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara refused to let history slip away.

The Alas Pilipinas duo staged a sensational comeback against China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, rallying from an opening-set defeat to win 13-21, 23-21, 15-13 and secure the Philippines’ first-ever Asian Games beach volleyball medal.

China struck first, taking control of the opening set and putting the Filipino pair in an early hole. But Progella and Pagara answered when the pressure was at its highest, grinding out a dramatic 23-21 second-set victory to force a decider.

And in the third set, there was nowhere to hide.

With the bronze medal hanging in the balance, the Philippine tandem held its nerve through another tight battle, closing out the match, 15-13, and sending the Filipino camp into celebration.

It was more than a comeback. It was a breakthrough.

Progella and Pagara have now etched their names into Philippine beach volleyball history as the country’s first Asian Games medalists in the sport, turning a tense three-set battle into a landmark moment for Alas Pilipinas.

From one set down to standing on the podium — the Filipino pair showed that sometimes, history belongs to the team that refuses to quit.

The sand has a new Philippine story. And it comes with bronze.

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦. 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧. 

Alas Pilipinas’ Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara suffered their first loss of the tournament Thursday, falling to Thailand’s Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, 21-23, 18-21, in the women’s beach volleyball semifinals of the 20th Asian Games.

The Filipinas came within striking distance in both sets but could not find the finishing touch against the Thai pair, who advanced to the gold-medal match.

For Progella and Pagara, the defeat was especially painful.

They entered the semifinal unbeaten and had already survived a tough quarterfinal battle against Japan to book their place in the final four.

They also carried unfinished business after Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons were beaten by the same Thai tandem just a day earlier.

But Thailand once again had the final say.

Still, there is no time to dwell on what slipped away.

A medal is still within reach.

Progella and Pagara will battle China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie on Friday with a bronze medal on the line.

The road to gold may have ended.

The road to the podium hasn’t.

One more match. One more chance to finish this Asian Games campaign with a medal around their necks.

𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦, 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦. 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗘.  

They fought until the final drop of sweat, but the comeback story was not meant to be.

Alas Pilipinas Women saw their podium dreams come to a painful halt after bowing to a resilient Kazakhstan squad in a grueling four-set thriller, 27-29, 26-24, 25-23, 25-19, in their Pool B encounter at the 20th Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena.

The stinging defeat officially eliminates the Philippines from medal contention, drawing the curtains on a courageous campaign in Nagoya.

A War of Nerves and Momentum

The match was a masterclass in grit, featuring high-octane rallies and dramatic momentum shifts that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Alas Pilipinas showed immense composure right out of the gate. In an extended, cardiac opening frame, the Filipinas outlasted the Kazakhs, 29-27, showcasing the trademark resilience that has defined this iteration of the national team.

However, Kazakhstan refused to fold. The Central Asian powerhouse storm back in the second set, snatching a razor-thin 26-24 equalizer to turn the match into a tactical chess match.

The Turning Point

With the match tied, the crucial third set became a battle of nerves. Alas Pilipinas traded heavy blows and desperation digs, but Kazakhstan's towering net defense and execution in winning time allowed them to escape with a 25-23 squeaker.

Sensing blood in the water, Kazakhstan carried the momentum into the fourth frame. As fatigue began to settle in for the Filipinas, the Kazakhs unleashed a decisive closing run to wrap up the set, 25-19, and permanently shut the door on a Philippine fightback.

Heads Held High

While the scoreboard confirmed the end of their Asian Games journey, the statistical heartbreak does little to diminish the growth of the program. Throughout the tournament, this squad put the rest of Asia on notice, proving that Philippine volleyball can stand toe-to-toe with the continent's giants.

The podium finish will have to wait, but the foundation has been laid.

Saludo kami sa inyo Alas Pilipinas. The journey in Nagoya ends, but the future of Philippine volleyball remains incredibly bright.

They may not have gotten the result they dreamed of, but Sisi Rondina and Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball gave the Philippines something far bigger—a reason to be proud.

For Rondina, simply stepping onto the international stage was already a dream fulfilled.

Representing the country at that level is an opportunity few athletes get to experience, and the Filipina star understands exactly what it means to carry the Philippine flag in competition against the best.

But dreams are rarely measured by one result.

Sometimes, they are measured by the courage to show up, the battles fought, and the lessons carried home.

And that is exactly what Alas Pilipinas now has.

A journey worth remembering

The campaign may not have ended the way the team hoped, but every match gave the Filipinas another opportunity to test themselves, learn and grow.

They leave the competition carrying more than memories.

They leave with experience.

They leave with lessons.

And most importantly, they leave with an even stronger hunger for what comes next.

For a team continuing to make its mark in international beach volleyball, every high-pressure match is another building block toward a bigger future.

The disappointment may sting now.

But it does not erase what they accomplished.

The dream continues

There will be another tournament. Another court. Another opportunity to wear the national colors.

And when that moment comes, Rondina and her teammates will bring everything they learned from this journey with them.

Because this was never simply about winning one match or one tournament.

It was about fighting for the flag.

It was about carrying the Philippines with pride.

And it was about proving that Alas Pilipinas belongs on the international stage.

So, kudos, mga Alas. 🇵🇭🔥

You fought.

You battled.

You represented.

And you gave Filipinos another reason to believe.

This may not be the ending you wanted.

But it is definitely NOT the end of the dream.

The dream continues. 🇵🇭🔥

Alas Pilipinas will head into the 2026 Asian Games without three of its biggest stars after injuries sidelined reigning All-Filipino Conference MVP Vanessa "Vanie" Gandler, veteran libero Jennifer Nierva, and rising spiker Shaina Nitura.

Gandler opted to skip national team duties to focus on recovering from a lingering injury sustained after months of continuous competition, while Nierva is also undergoing rehabilitation for an injury.

Nitura, meanwhile, was officially ruled out after undergoing ankle surgery. The Philippine Olympic Committee said the young standout is expected to spend around three months in rehabilitation before returning to action.

The national team's injury woes were evident when Gandler and fellow MVP Erika Santos were absent from Capital1's recent friendly match against the visiting Dominican Republic squad.

Adding to the challenge, two other players in the Alas Pilipinas women's pool are reportedly still undecided about joining the national team due to concerns over losing compensation from their respective club teams during national duty.

Despite the setbacks, Alas Pilipinas continues its preparations with the remaining members of the training pool as it sets its sights on a strong campaign in the 20th Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The absence of three key contributors leaves the Philippine squad with a difficult task, but the team remains determined to compete at its best on one of Asia's biggest sporting stages.

The Philippine Olympic Committee has officially suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation following the latter’s suspension by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, POC president Abraham Tolentino announced yesterday, Wednesday June 24.

According to Tolentino, the suspension was unanimously approved during the POC Executive Board meeting held Monday in Parañaque City, noting that the move automatically follows the international federation’s sanction against its national member body.

The FIVB suspended the PNVF effective May 29 under Article 13.1.1 of its Disciplinary Regulations. The sanction stems from serious governance concerns and multiple alleged violations currently being investigated by the independent FIVB Ethics Panel.

Prior to the international suspension, the Philippine Sports Commission had already halted all funding for the PNVF, citing governance issues and non-compliance with policies governing financial assistance for national sports associations.

Despite the suspension, the PNVF recently conducted leadership changes, removing TonyBoy Liao as president and naming businessman Frank Lao as his replacement along with a new set of executive board members.

However, Tolentino declared the election invalid, stressing that the POC was not notified and did not send an observer to oversee the proceedings as required.

“Their latest election, for the POC, is invalid—no notice to the POC and no observer from the POC,” Tolentino said.

As a result of the suspension, the PNVF is barred from participating in all POC activities, including the General Assembly. The POC is also awaiting further action from the FIVB, particularly the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee tasked with overseeing volleyball affairs while the federation remains under suspension.

The development adds another chapter to the ongoing governance crisis in Philippine volleyball as stakeholders await the outcome of the FIVB investigation and the future direction of the sport’s national governing body.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has officially given the green light for Alas Pilipinas players to return to their mother clubs in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

However, the nationals will only be eligible to compete in the Reinforced Conference, scheduled from October to November, and will sit out the league’s short Invitational Conference kicking off this Thursday. The PVL’s long-running All-Filipino Conference is tentatively slated to open in January 2026.

Alas Pilipinas secured its third consecutive Southeast Asia V.League bronze medal after defeating Indonesia, 25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13, last Sunday, August 4, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

After dropping their first two matches to eventual champion Thailand and runner-up Vietnam, the Filipinas bounced back with a strong performance against Indonesia to secure another podium finish at the end of the first leg of the tournament.

The national team delivered a commanding 18-6 run in the final set to clinch the victory in front of a supportive crowd.

Filipino-American standouts Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya are gearing up for their potential national team debut in the upcoming VTV Cup in Vietnam.

This year marks the third consecutive appearance of a Philippine team in the VTV Cup.

Alas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito expressed that the trio were not able to suit up for the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup due to pending eligibility requirements under the Philippine Federation.

Fortunately, their documentation is reportedly nearing its completion.

De Brito also confirmed last week that Van Sickle had already joined the national team’s training alongside Phillips, Andaya, Maddie Madayag, and Alleiah Malaluan.