Alas Pilipinas braces for a baptism of fire in an opening day clash against powerhouse Vietnam in the 2025 VTV Cup today in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam.
Expect fireworks when the protagonists of the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup championship cross paths once again in the featured Pool A match slated at 8 p.m., Sunday (Manila time).
Following a historic silver medal finish in the Nations Cup two weeks ago, the Filipinas’ look to build on their recent success and score payback over the same team that swept them in the gold medal match.
Brazilian head coach Jorge de Brito only has a handful of holdovers from the previous tourney with back-to-back Nations Cup Best setter and skipper Jia de Guzman leading the way alongside libero Dawn Catindig, Eya Laure and Nations Cup Best Middle Blocker Dell Palomata.
However, Alas is fielding a team packed with offensive punch with the arrival of two-time Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle and fellow Filipino-Americans MJ Phillips and playmaker Tia Andaya.
Van Sickle is expected to be a major offensive force, while Phillips adds crucial size and power to the Alas frontline. Andaya, on the other hand, will be bringing a new dimension to the team’s playmaking.
Alas will need all its weapons against the Vietnamese bannered by veteran internationalist Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Nations Cup MVP Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen.
Newcomers Justine Jazareno, Leila Cruz, Alleiah Malaluan, Amie Provido and Mars Alba with returnees Lams Lamina and Maddie Madayag will be provide additional firepower for Alas.
Winger Vanie Gandler, Fifi Sharma and Thea Gagate will serves as reserves.
Notably, several players from the AVC Nations Cup silver-medal team will be sitting out the VTV Cup, including Bella Belen, Best Outside Spiker Angel Canino, Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura, Jennifer Nierva, Clarisse Loresco and Julia Coronel.
Alas will take on Sichuan Wuliangchun of China on tomorrow before wrapping the elims against Australia on Tuesday.