UST Golden Tigresses head coach Shaq Delos Santos has been named interim head coach of the Alas Pilipinas Women’s national team for the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, which will be held from June 6 to 14 in Ilocos Sur.
Delos Santos will temporarily replace Thai mentor Tai Bundit, who underwent surgery after suffering a fractured foot in an accident in Thailand.
Delos Santos was originally serving as one of Bundit’s deputy assistant coaches until the accident prevented the Thai mentor from joining the team during preparations for the AVC Cup.
His appointment also comes during a transitional period for Alas Women, as several players from the original national team pool withdrew from the tournament, including former UST player Eya Laure, Jia De Guzman, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Angel Canino and Shaina Nitura.
Last month, Strong Group Athletics, a supporter of the UST Growling Tigresses and Golden Tigresses, expressed its support for the national team amid recent developments surrounding the program.
In UAAP Season 88, Delos Santos steered the Golden Tigresses to a bronze-medal finish in his first year back as UST head coach.
He last handled the national team from 2018 to 2021.
