Alas Pilipinas will be representing the Philippines when it competes in the 2025 VTV Cup in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam from 28 June to 5 July.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) said it will field the national squad after its original choice – reigning Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference champion Petro Gazz – failed to meet the deadline for the submission of some key requirements needed for the prestigious invitational event.
Aside from having a strong team, deploying the national squad in the VTV Cup will also be practical for the federation as it is also set to see action in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup from 7 to 14 June also in Vietnam.
“Petro Gazz didn’t meet the deadline for the submission of some requirements needed for the VTV Cup that’s why we decided to send the national squad,” the federation leadership said in a report.
With Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito calling the shots, Alas Pilipinas is already in the thick of its preparation for the back-to-back international tournaments.
Leading Alab Pilipinas is three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player Bella Belen with mainstays Jia De Guzman, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Vanie Gandler, Eya Laure, Dell Palomata, Jennifer Nierva, Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel, and Fifi Sharma.
Also part of the pool are MJ Phillips, Maddie Madayag, Jeanette Panaga, Mars Alba, Julia Coronel, Dawn Catindig, and Tia Andaya as well as UAAP stars Shaina Nitura, Cla Loresco, and Lams Lamina.
It’s going to be the first time for the national team to represent the country in the VTV Cup after Choco Mucho won the bronze medal in 2023 while National University competed last year.
With Alas Pilipinas in the mix, the level of competition of the VTV Cup had jacked up as four senior national squads and two U21 sides will be seeing action.
The Filipinas are bracketed in Pool A together with Sichuan Women’s Volleyball Club of China and the national squads of host Vietnam and Australia.