A stacked and motivated Alas Pilipinas will have a short turnover as they face the second match in their AVC Nations Cup campaign and regional rival Indonesia.
Alas Pilipinas turn to their young guns as they seek a 2-0 start in the AVC Women’s Nations Cup, facing Indonesia in a crucial Pool B matchup on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time).
Less than 24 hours after a commanding debut win over Mongolia, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito’s squad returns to the court in Vietnam with momentum—and stiffer competition—on the line.
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Angel Canino and Bella Belen, two of the country’s brightest collegiate stars, are expected to take on larger roles after letting the veteran core lead the charge in the opener.
Against Indonesia, whose five-set collapse to Iran puts them in must-win territory, the youthful duo could be pivotal in keeping Alas unbeaten.
Shaina Nitura, the rookie phenom who entered late in the third set against Mongolia, will also aim for an expanded role as she continues to settle in with the senior team.
Setters Jia Morado-De Guzman and Julia Coronel will again have no shortage of firepower, with Vanie Gandler and Eya Laure leading the wings, and Alyssa Solomon, Fifi Sharma, and Thea Gagate ready to contribute across the net.
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With only the top two teams in Pool B advancing to the semifinals, a win would put Alas Pilipinas in prime position to move forward in their Nations Cup campaign—and closer to another historic run.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[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.]