Alas Pilipinas Returns with Young Core for 5th SEA V.League in Thailand

The young talents of the Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball squad are gearing up for the upcoming 5th Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League first leg, which will take place from August 1 to 3 in Thailand.

Key players Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Alyssa Solomon, and Shaina Nitura will rejoin the team for the regional tournament, accompanied by experienced veterans such as team captain Jia De Guzman and Eya Laure. This group previously showcased their skills in the AVC Nations Cup held in June, where the Philippines secured a historic silver medal. Notably, Canino was honored with the Best Outside Spiker award for her outstanding performance.

Interestingly, Belen, Canino, Solomon, and Nitura were absent from the squad that participated in the VTV Cup in Vietnam last June, where the team finished in fourth place.

Completing the roster for the SEA V.League are Vanie Gandler, Mars Alba, Dawn Catindig, Justine Jazareno, Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, Dell Palomata, Clarisse Loresco, and Fifi Sharma. Meanwhile, Fil-Am players Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya, who featured in the VTV Cup, will not be joining the lineup for this tournament.

Alas Pilipinas will face strong regional opponents throughout the first leg of the SEA V.League, starting with Thailand on Friday, followed by Vietnam on Saturday, and concluding against Indonesia on Sunday.

Under the guidance of coach Jorge Souza de Brito, the Philippine team earned back-to-back bronze medals in last year’s two legs of the SEA V.League and aims to build on that success with a more dynamic lineup this season.