Philippines national volleyball teams in AVC and FIVB club tournaments

This article is about the Philippine national teams in AVC and FIVB-sanctioned club tournaments. For the main national team articles, see Philippines women's national volleyball team and Philippines men's national volleyball team.

Cignal

Flag of the Philippines
Full name	Philippines national volleyball team
Short name	Cignal
Founded	2021
Owner	Philippine National Volleyball Federation
Head coach	Angiolino Frigoni
League	None

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation sent representative teams in the 2021 Asian Men's and Women's Club Volleyball Championships under the name of Rebisco and Choco Mucho, brands of its sponsor Republic Biscuit Corporation. The teams don't belong to a domestic league with its players derived from the pool of the Philippine men's and women's national teams.

The men's team will play as a club again representing the Philippines at the 2025 AVC Men's Volleyball Nations Cup.

History

PSL All Stars

Main article: Philippine Super Liga All-Stars

The Philippines under the previous national federation, Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas (LVP) has been represented by non-club teams in official FIVB and AVC tournaments. Republic Biscuit Corporation which owns the Rebisco brand has been supporting Philippine volleyball since 2017. ^[1]

The PSL All-Stars, a selection team from players of the Philippine Super Liga, was the country's representative at the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship in Metro Manila rather than a regular club side. That team played as "PSL-F2 Logistics Manila" which finished last among 8th teams in that tournament. ^{[2] [3]} The team featured again in the 2017 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship as "Rebisco-PSL Manila" due to a sponsorship deal with Republic Biscuit. The team likewise finished last at 8th place. ^[4] The selection team has also participated in other tournaments in Thailand and the PSL Super Cup.

National teams in club tournaments

Rebisco and PNVF

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation succeeded the LVP in early 2021. In June 2021, the PNVF secured a three-year sponsorship deal with Republic Biscuit Corporation. The company pledged to support the federation's national team programs. ^{[5] [6]}

The PNVF entered the men's and women's national teams for the 2021 Asian Men's and Women's Club Volleyball Championships under the Rebisco name. ^{[7] [8]} For the women's competition, the federation will field two teams composing of national team players. ^[7] The first team will composed of more established players and the second team will be a developmental side composed of younger players. ^[9]

Originally, the PNVF planned to send two teams in that competition; the national team under the Rebisco brand and the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers winners of the 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference. ^{[10] [11]} However Chery Tiggo and all the other teams in the league declined to participate. ^[7] The PNVF will instead field a second team composing of national team players instead. ^[7] The second team was named Team Choco Mucho, after another brand of Republic Biscuit Corporation and shares the name with a PVL club, Choco Mucho Flying Titans. ^[12]

Choco Mucho placed sixth in the 2021 Women's Club Championship, besting the Rebisco team which settled for seventh place. ^[13] The men's Rebisco team on their part finished 9th out of 10 teams in their tournament. ^[14]

'Cignal'

Not to be confused with Cignal HD Spikers (men's team).

The men's national team will compete under the name "Cignal" at the 2025 AVC Men's Champions League in Japan, sharing the name of the Cignal HD Spikers – the 2024 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference champions. This is a result of an approved request by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation to the AVC and is part of the national team's preparation for the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship which the Philippines will be hosting. ^[15] The staff decided not to use any foreign reinforcement despite being allowed to use up to three. ^[16] The squad also has players outside the Spikers' Turf club Cignal despite its name. ^[17] They finished last in the preliminary round conceding games to Osaka Bluteon and Shanghai Bright. ^[18]

Current roster

The following were the Philippine national team rosters for the 2025 AVC Men's Volleyball Champions League.

Cignal HD Spikers
Number	Position	Name	Date of birth	Height	Other current club
3	S	Joshua Retamar	(2000-03-07)March 7, 2000 (aged 25)	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
4	L	Vince Lorenzo	(1999-07-11)July 11, 1999 (aged 25)	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
5	OP	Steve Rotter	(1998-04-16)April 16, 1998 (aged 27)	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
7	MB	Kim Malabunga	(1996-05-08)May 8, 1996 (aged 29)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	Criss Cross King Crunchers
8	MB	John Paul Bugaoan (c)	(1999-01-08)January 8, 1999 (aged 26)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
10	S	EJ Casaña	(1999-01-18)January 18, 1999 (aged 26)	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
11	OH	Joshua Umandal	(1999-03-08)March 8, 1999 (aged 26)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
14	L	John Michael Paglaon	(2000-06-05)June 5, 2000 (aged 24)	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	Savouge Spin Doctors
15	OH	Marck Espejo	(1997-03-01)March 1, 1997 (aged 28)	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	Criss Cross King Crunchers
16	MB	Gian Glorioso	(1997-06-08)June 8, 1997 (aged 27)	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)	Criss Cross King Crunchers
17	OH	Miguel Wendel	(1995-08-21)August 21, 1995 (aged 29)	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
20	MB	Lloyd Josafat	(1999-09-18)September 18, 1999 (aged 25)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
21	OH	Louie Ramirez	(2000-04-14)April 14, 2000 (aged 25)	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Cignal HD Spikers
25	OP	Ike Barilea	(2004-11-09)November 9, 2004 (aged 20)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)	One Silay

Source:AVC and Philippine Daily Inquirer

Previous rosters

The following were the Philippine national team rosters for the 2021 Asian Men's and Women's Club Volleyball Championships.

Men's

Team Rebisco (2021)

Team Rebisco Number Position Name Date of birth Height Other current club 2 MB John Paul Bugaoan (1999-01-08)January 8, 1999 (aged 22) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Cignal HD Spikers 4 S Joshua Retamar (2000-03-07)March 7, 2000 (aged 21) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Sta. Elena Ball Hammers 5 L Manuel Sumanguid III (1998-01-05)January 5, 1998 (aged 23) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Cignal HD Spikers 6 MB Kim Malabunga (1996-05-08)May 8, 1996 (aged 25) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Go for Gold-Air Force 7 MB Rex Intal (1994-09-07)September 7, 1994 (aged 27) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Cignal HD Spikers 8 OP Mark Alfafara (1994-01-28)January 28, 1994 (aged 27) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) PLDT 9 OH Angelo Almendras (1999-07-27)July 27, 1999 (aged 22) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Sta. Elena Ball Hammers 10 OH John Vic De Guzman (c) (1993-09-23)September 23, 1993 (aged 28) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) PLDT 11 OH Joshua Umandal (1999-03-08)March 8, 1999 (aged 22) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) PLDT 12 MB Francis Philip Saura (1996-05-02)May 2, 1996 (aged 25) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Go for Gold-Air Force 14 S Esmilzo Polvorosa (1997-03-22)March 22, 1997 (aged 24) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Cignal HD Spikers 16 L Ricky Marcos (1996-08-01)August 1, 1996 (aged 25) 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) Sta. Elena Ball Hammers 17 S Jessie Lopez (1986-03-29)March 29, 1986 (aged 35) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Go for Gold-Air Force 19 OP Ysrael Marasigan (1994-09-24)September 24, 1994 (aged 27) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Cignal HD Spikers Source: PNVF and match #21 P–2

Women's

Team Rebisco (2021)

Team Rebisco Number Position Name Date of birth Height Other current club 2 MB Abigail Maraño (1992-12-22)December 22, 1992 (aged 28) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) F2 Logistics Cargo Movers 4 OH Mhicaela Belen (2002-06-29)June 29, 2002 (aged 19) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) National University 5 MB Imee Hernandez (2000-11-06)November 6, 2000 (aged 20) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) University of Santo Tomas 6 L Bernadette Pepito (2002-10-27)October 27, 2002 (aged 18) 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) University of Santo Tomas High School 7 S Rhea Dimaculangan (1991-03-21)March 21, 1991 (aged 30) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters 8 OH Ejiya Laure (1999-03-20)March 20, 1999 (aged 22) 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) University of Santo Tomas 9 L Jennifer Nierva (1999-11-08)November 8, 1999 (aged 21) 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) National University 10 MB Mary Joy Baron (c) (1995-12-10)December 10, 1995 (aged 25) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) F2 Logistics Cargo Movers 11 OP Faith Nisperos (2000-01-02)January 2, 2000 (aged 21) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Ateneo de Manila University 15 OH Jessica Galanza (1996-11-28)November 28, 1996 (aged 24) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Creamline Cool Smashers 16 OP Aleona Denise Manabat (1993-09-26)September 26, 1993 (aged 28) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers 17 S Kamille Cal (2001-04-25)April 25, 2001 (aged 20) 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) National University 21 MB Ivy Lacsina (1999-10-21)October 21, 1999 (aged 21) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) National University 26 OP Kim Kianna Dy (1995-07-16)July 16, 1995 (aged 26) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) F2 Logistics Cargo Movers Sources: AVC and match #15 P–2

Team Choco Mucho (2021)

Team Choco Mucho Number Position Name Date of birth Height Other current club 1 OH Kalei Mau (1995-10-05)October 5, 1995 (aged 25) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Changos de Naranjito 3 S Deanna Wong (1998-07-18)July 18, 1998 (aged 23) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Choco Mucho Flying Titans 7 OH Mylene Paat (1994-04-05)April 5, 1994 (aged 27) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Chery Tiggo Crossovers 8 S Angelica Cayuna (1998-08-17)August 17, 1998 (aged 23) 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Perlas Spikers 11 OP Mar-Jana Phillips (1995-06-15)June 15, 1995 (aged 26) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors 13 MB Dell Palomata (1995-11-01)November 1, 1995 (aged 25) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors 18 MB Marivic Meneses (1995-10-18)October 18, 1995 (aged 25) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Petro Gazz Angels 23 L Dawn Macandili (1996-06-01)June 1, 1996 (aged 25) 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) F2 Logistics Cargo Movers 32 S Iris Tolenada (c) (1991-08-21)August 21, 1991 (aged 30) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) free agent 56 OH Ernestine Tiamzon (1997-05-04)May 4, 1997 (aged 24) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) F2 Logistics Cargo Movers Katrina Tolentino was replaced by Cayuna with the former withdrawing from the team due to health reasons. [19] Kim Kianna Dy and Mary Joy Baron were moved to Rebisco, due to the latter needing a minimum of ten players. Four of Rebisco's players were rendered unavailable after they were asked to comply with additional local health and safety protocols. [19] Sources: AVC and match #15 P–2

Competitive record

Men's

Asian Club Championship

• 2021 (Rebisco) – 9th place
• 2025 (Cignal) – 11th place

Women's

Asian Club Championship

• 2021
  • First team (Rebisco) – 7th place
  • Second team (Choco Mucho) – 6th place

Head coaches

Men's

Team	Coach	Tournament
Rebisco	Dante Alinsunurin	2021 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship
Cignal	Angiolino Frigoni	2025 AVC Men's Champions League

Women's

Team	Coach	Tournament
Rebisco	Jorge Edson	2021 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship
Choco Mucho	Odjie Mamon

See also

• PLDT HOME TVolution team – non-league men's and women's team formed specifically for the 2014 Asian Men's and Women's Club Championships
• Philippines men's national basketball team in FIBA club tournaments – another national team which was entered in tournaments meant for clubs
• Philippines men's national volleyball team – national volleyball team representing Philippines
• Philippines women's national volleyball team – national volleyball team representing Philippines

References

1. "PHL volleyball gets avid support". BusinessMirror. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
2. "F2 Logistics to serve as official sponsor for PSL-Pilipinas". Tiebreaker Times. October 1, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
3. Lozada, Bong (October 23, 2016). "Bangkok Glass sweeps winless PSL-F2". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
4. "Rebisco PSL Manila settles for 8th place after winless campaign". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 31, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
5. "PNVF, Rebisco inks 3-year sponsorship deal". BusinessWorld. June 15, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
6. "Rebisco to support all of PNVF national teams". Tiebreaker Times. June 15, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
7. "Volleyball: 2 national teams to join Asian club tourney". ABS-CBN News. August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
8. Lozada, Bong (August 28, 2021). "PNVF sending three teams to two Asian club tourneys". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
9. Dannug, Jonash (September 3, 2021). "PNVF to split AVC Women's Club teams to vets, young guns". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
10. Suing, Ivan (August 18, 2021). "Chery Tiggo marches in full force". Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
11. Dannug, Jonash (August 18, 2021). "Chery Tiggo, Rebisco invited to join Asian Women's Club Championship". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
12. "Marano, Deguzman captain Rebisco PH as Tolenada skippers Choco Mucho in AVC Club". Tiebreaker Times. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
13. "Choco Mucho settles for 6th in Asian club tournament". BusinessMirror. October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
14. Lozada, Bong (October 13, 2021). "Rebisco ends AVC stint with win over Sri Lanka's CEB Sports Club". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
15. Garcia, John Mark (January 10, 2025). "Alas Pilipinas to compete as Cignal in AVC Men's Champions League". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
16. Dannug, Jonash (April 28, 2025). "Alas Men head to Japan, US, Europe for World Championship prep". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
17. Dannug, Jonash (May 2, 2025). "Criss Cross stars join forces with Cignal for AVC Champions League bid". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
18. Dannug, Jonash (May 13, 2025). "Cignal ends AVC campaign 0-2 after sweep by Shanghai Bright". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
19. Agcaoli, Lance (September 29, 2021). "Kat Tolentino begs off from PH team to Asian Club Championship". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 29, 2021.