Alas Pilipinas during a VNL meet and greet at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The popular Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team returns to action next week, and right off the bat, the squad will be playing a do-or-die game against a formidable foe in Vietnam when the FIVB Challenger Cup gets off the ground at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
After clinching a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women last month, the Filipinos will be battling Vietnam, needing no less than a win to progress in the tournament where the champion qualifies for next year’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
READ: Next schedule for Alas Pilipinas after AVC Challenge Cup campaign
The team will be made up basically of the same personnel that finished third in the AVC save for the addition of pro star Jema Galanza and stalwarts of UAAP champion National University Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
Jia de Guzman, hands-down the country’s best setter, and Angel Canino were the stars for the Philippines in that campaign as both bagged individual accolades.
READ: De Brito embraces higher expectations for Alas Pilipinas
Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Julia Coronel, Jen Nierva, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag and Arah Panique are the other members of the squad.
Philippines vs Vietnam is set on July 5 at 6:30 p.m. after the Czech Republic-Argentina duel at 3. On July 4, Puerto Rico and Kenya open hostilities at 3 p.m. while Belgium and Sweden slug it out at 5 p.m.