Alas Pilipinas is tempering expectations and locking in on pure preparation just weeks before they battle the region's elite in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Cup, scheduled for June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. 

Speaking at Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on May 26, interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos and veteran cornerstone Alyssa Valdez emphasized that the immediate mission is building roster chemistry rather than making bold predictions. 

“Ang goal muna is pano mapalakas ang team natin,” Coach Delos Santos said.

The Philippines finds itself in a challenging Pool A alongside powerhouse squads from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and Uzbekistan, forcing the team to take a strict "one game at a time" mentality.

The current 20-player pool blends decorated international veterans with hungry collegiate standouts, though the final lineup remains a work in progress. 

“Right now, pool pa lang ang meron kami,” Coach Delos Santos added.

Headliner returnees like Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Ces Molina all stalwarts of the 2019 SEA Games squad are stepping up to anchor the national program during a tight transitional phase. 

Coach Delos Santos confirmed that while the final cuts have yet to be locked in from a pool that includes Premier Volleyball League (PVL) stars and UAAP standouts, the coaching staff will prioritize building the absolute strongest combination possible before the team heads to Candon City for intensive training next week.

Despite the steep hill ahead, the players expressed raw excitement and unwavering commitment to the flag. 

“We’re very, very humbled and excited to be part of the national team again and represent the country with pride,” Alyssa Valdez said.

“Ang sarap ng feeling na makabalik sa national team. Excited kami. Once the country calls for your service nandito kami. Ang hirap tanggihan ang national team,” Jovelyn Gonzaga said.

Gonzaga noted the undeniable pull of national duty, stating that it is impossible to say no when the country calls for service, even as they deliberately keep performance expectations to a minimum. 

Valdez echoed this grounded confidence, promising that fans can expect maximum effort on the court but noting that realistic preparation trumps premature guarantees. 

“But realistically, we cannot predict anything. All we can do now is to prepare well. Basta to represent the country with honor and pride,” added Valdez 

With reigning champion Vietnam anchoring a dangerous Pool B, the Filipina spikers are focusing entirely on controlling their own readiness to ensure they represent the nation with pride.