Alas Women's players only available after exit of PVL clubs, says Palou

MANILA, November 22 ------ PVL President Ricky Palou shared that national team players who are suiting up for their PVL clubs will only be available for Alas Pilipinas after their respective teams' elimination from the ongoing 2025 Reinforced Conference. Palou said that it was an agreement among the teams taking part in the import-laden, year-ending tourney.

The Philippines is set to participate in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, which will take place in Thailand from December 9 to 20. "What the team owners have agreed on is that when the teams are eliminated, if they have players who are in the national pool, they will be released to the national team. But until they get eliminated, they'll keep on playing for the team," Palou clarified. "So, what we're looking at is that a lot of these players will be playing until the championship. After November 30, everybody will be released."

Palou said they are free to attend the national team practices—it just depends on their availability. "[Trainings are] depending on the players or the teams. There's no restriction. Normally, I think the schedule for those who are playing in the league, their training for the national pool is on Sunday and Monday. Depende na sa mga players kung gusto lang sumipot doon."

Palou shared that there's still no final pool for the national team, answering, "Wala pa. Wala niyan." "Nagpalit ulit sila. They removed some and added some. Like I don't see, I understand [Thea] Gagate is not in the pool now, pero in the first pool nandun siya. May mga ganun sila, may mga pinalitan sila."

The league president, though, encouraged the teams to lend their players to the national team. "It's up to them if they want to lend or not, kasi they're the ones who are; the players are under contract with the PVL. Although we're trying to encourage the team owners, na pahiram niyo naman sa national team. It's good, sabi ko nga, kung manalo tayo, maganda para sa liga. ‘Yung mga players ng PVL nagka-medalya sa Southeast Asian Games," he said.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com