Collegiate standout Shaina Nitura led the youngbloods headlining the 16-woman roster of Alas Pilipinas set to compete in the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Nations Cup.
The Adamson University star and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Rookie of the Year is set to make her national team debut in the prestigious 11-country tournament running from 7 to 14 June in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nitura will join other youthful stars in National University setter Lams Lamina, Far Eastern University middle blocker Cla Loresco and Capital1 winger Leila Cruz.
The youthful volleybelles are expected to energize the Jorge Souza De Brito-mentored squad, which is bunched with Kazakhstan, Iran, Indonesia, Mongolia and New Zealand.
Their addition will give Alas a good balance of youth and experience.
De Brito retained the core of Alas that won bronze medals in the two legs of the SEA V.League and the AVC Nations Cup held in Manila last year.
Main setter and skipper Jia Morado-De Guzman and grizzled libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig are back to steer the team.
Alas will have a potent wing rotation with the inclusion of Eya Laure, three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, Angel Canino and Vanie Gandler at the open position while Alyssa Solomon joins Cruz at the opposite.
Also taking care of the frontline are middle blockers Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma and Del Palomata. Julia Coronel is the other playmaker while Catindig is backed by Jennifer Nierva.
