Expect to see the same faces for Alas Pilipinas, along with collegiate stars in Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Casiey Dongallo.
Around the same time last year, the Philippine women's national volleyball team failed to reach the finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA). They couldn't take home the bronze either.
Star setter Jia de Guzman was utterly frank in pointing out the problem of the national team.
"They're the same teams that we go up against for so many years, and us, we keep changing," she told One Sports' Denise Tan during that time. "If we want to better our chances, we need a long-term program and everything."
[ALSO READ: What Philippine volleyball needs to improve on, according to Jia de Guzman]
Fast forward one year and one AVC Challenge Cup bronze medal later, de Guzman will finally get her wish.
After the historic bronze medal finish at the AVC Challenge Cup on Wednesday, Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon "Tats" Suzara confirmed the team would remain intact for future competitions.
"The intention is to keep this team intact with additional athletes from the college ranks," Suzara said.
"It's a breakthrough, it's historic, and the obvious next step is to keep this team intact andmake it stronger and much more competitive."
Staying put in the national team are Jia Morado-de Guzman, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Eya Laure, Faith Nisperos, Fifi Sharma, Jen Nierva, Sisi Rondina and Vanessa Gandler who all play in the Premier Volleyball League.
From the collegiate ranks are De La Salle’s Angel Canino, Julia Coronel and Thea Gagate. Expected to rejoin are National University’s Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen and University of the East’s Casiey Dongallo.
Solomon, Belen, and Dongallo were part of the initial pool named for Alas Pilipinas, but had to withdraw for the AVC Challenge Cup for various reasons.
Solomon and Belen cited the need to rest after the UAAP Season 86 championship. They also needed time for school as well as to prepare for the PVL draft.
[ALSO READ: Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon out of Alas Pilipinas for AVC Challenge Cup]
Meanwhile, Dongallo had to put her national team dreams on hold after an unfortunate accident before the start of training.
[ALSO READ: Casiey Dongallo sustains right wrist injury, set to sit out for Alas Pilipinas in AVC Challenge Cup]
"It’s a potent mix," said Suzara.
After the AVC Challenge Cup, Alas Pilipinas will head to South Korea for an exhibition match on June 7 to celebrate the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
It would also be the perfect preparation for the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup, which would be held from July 4 to 7.
Vietnam secured the Asian spot by winning the AVC Challenge Cup, but the Philippines will get a berth by virtue of being host.
Suzara also expects the team to remain intact for the 33rd SEA Games next year in Thailand.
"I believe we’ll have a very strong fighting chance," he said.
For four straight editions of the SEA Games, the Philippines consistently missed out on the podium of women's volleyball. It was 2005 in Bacolod when the squad last got a medal--a bronze in the event.
With the wish of continuity getting fulfilled, AVC Challenge Cup Best Setter De Guzman and Alas Pilipinas have a shot of reaching the SEA Games podium once again.