Flanked by young talent, Alas Pilipinas will be aiming for a winning start in the AVC Nations Cup against Mongolia.
Skipper Jia De Guzman and rising star Shaina Nitura headline a reloaded Alas Pilipinas squad as they begin their AVC Challenge Cup campaign against Mongolia on Saturday, June 7, at 4:00 p.m. (Manila time) in Vietnam.
Coming off a historic bronze finish in last year’s tournament, Alas Pilipinas returns with both familiar firepower and exciting new faces, determined to open their Nations Cup run with a statement win.
De Guzman will once again orchestrate the offense, now with even more weapons at her disposal—including UAAP Season 87 Rookie-MVP Shaina Nitura, who makes her much-anticipated national team debut.
Nitura joins a loaded cast of wing scorers that includes youthful mainstays Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Alyssa Solomon, giving the Philippines a potent attack from all sides.
Veteran hitters Eya Laure and Vanie Gandler, along with middle blockers Dell Palomata, Fifi Sharma, and Thea Gagate, provide additional depth and experience to a team looking to build on its 2023 breakthrough.
First-timer Clarisse Loresco also joins Nitura in making her international debut.
Anchoring the defense are top-tier liberos Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Jen Nierva, ensuring stability on the floor against a Mongolian side that’s returning to the continental stage after sitting out last year’s tournament.
With momentum and high expectations behind them, Alas Pilipinas is hard-pressed to start strong and deliver the kind of performance that hints at another historic run.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
—
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]