For the first time since 1962, the Philippines is set to send both the Alas Pilipinas men’s and women’s volleyball teams to the Asian Games, which will run from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Photos: Alas Pilipinas/Instagram
The last time the Alas Pilipinas men landed on the podium of the continental games was in the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where they secured a bronze medal in the nine-man volleyball event.
Since then, the program has been on hiatus for nearly five decades before returning after 49 years at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. This year, the team will be bannered by some of the top players in the country, including Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Jude Garcia, and Josh Ybañez.
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Meanwhile, the Alas Pilipinas women’s team has never reached the Asian Games podium. Their best finish was fourth place during their continental games debut in 1962.
This time the squad is looking to make history in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games, building on their strong momentum from international competitions.
Leading the charge toward a podium finish is team captain Jia de Guzman, alongside key standouts like Angel Canino, Eya Laure, and Bella Belen.
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Both national squads face an uphill battle against some of Asia’s traditional powerhouses, making early execution critical for bracket advancement.
In the men’s division, Alas Pilipinas will face South Korea, China, and Chinese Taipei in Pool D of the preliminary phase.
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Similarly, the women’s team faces tight competition, slotted in Pool B alongside China and Kazakhstan.
The Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, 2026, across two key venues—Okazaki Central Park General Gymnasium in Okazaki and Park Arena Komaki in Komaki.
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The women’s volleyball tournament kicks off early on September 16, 2026, prior to the official opening ceremony, while the men’s tournament runs from September 27 to October 3, 2026.
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