AVC Cup: Angel Canino-Eya Laure tandem powering Alas Pilipinas

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024

Alas Pilipinas’ Eya Laure and Angel Canino during the AVC Challenge Cup game against India. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino and Eya Laure have stepped up as Alas Pilipinas’ 1-2 punch after leading the young team to a 2-0 start in Pool A in the AVC Challenge Cup.

Canino and Laure continued to form a potent combo as the hard-hitting pair led the way for Alas to a rousing 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 win over India on Friday evening in front of 3,800 fans at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Canino, the rookie national team member, may be playing a different position as the opposite spiker but she has emerged as the leading scorer of the team, resetting her Philippine squad career-high with 22 points off 19 attacks, two aces, and a block.

READ: AVC Cup: Angel Canino shines in Alas Pilipinas debut

Laure, a returning Alas member, continued to backstop Canino with another 17-point outing including the game-winning spike to keep the Philippines unbeaten in Pool A and inch closer to a first Challenge Cup semifinal appearance.

“We won’t be able to earn these points if not for the team’s effort. We need each other inside the court and those points were not for us, it’s for the team, it’s for the Philippines,” said Canino in Filipino after averaging 19.5 points in her first two games.

Eya Laure and Angel Canino on being Alas’ 1-2 punch. #AVCChallengeCup | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/DW4HdbRimg

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) May 24, 2024

The Chery Tiggo star also credited their impressive showing to the hard work of each member of the team, who only had a few days to prepare before competing.

Alas Pilipinas’ Eya Laure and Angel Canino celebrate with their teammates during the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 game against India. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“It’s all about the effort of each member because one or two people can’t carry the team. As long as we continue to help and believe in each, we can reach far [in this tournament],” said Laure.

Alas, which leads Pool A, looks to continue its winning ways against Iran (1-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. before wrapping up its campaign against the also-ran Chinese Taipei (0-3).

Laure and Canino, who both believe that teamwork, jelling, and communication have been the keys to their impressive start, have no plans of letting go of their golden opportunity.

“We’re already here. We won’t let go of this opportunity,” Laure said. “We will maximize it and we will continue to work as a team and achieve good things for our nation.”

“We have to grab this rare opportunity for us. We’ll try to minimize our lapses next time,” Canino added.