Eya Laure, Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler and Shaina Nitura talk team chemistry as Alas Pilipinas take their winning bond from reels to court in the AVC Nations Cup.
They dance. They pose. They groove in the middle of the grocery aisle. But when the whistle blows, they don’t just show up—they slay.
This is the new generation of Alas Pilipinas: confident, connected, and completely in sync.
Their chemistry? It didn’t just start in training camp or a locker room speech. TikTok played a part in it.
Last year, a video of Alas Pilipinas’ Eya Laure, Arah Panique, and Angel Canino dancing to BINI’s hit song Pantropiko at a grocery store went viral.
It was unpolished, unplanned, and totally them—a group of young athletes owning their space with the same flair they now bring to the international stage.
[ALSO READ: BINIverse everywhere: Alas Pilipinas’ Eya Laure, Angel Canino, and Arah Panique spice up the grocery aisle with BINI moves]
Fast forward to a year later in the 2025 AVC Nations Cup in Vietnam, that confidence hit a new high mark.
“Siyempre siguro kasi marami talagang mga Gen Z,” said Eya Laure, as the Alas stars unleash a fresh wave of slayable moments not just on social media but on official team photos.
With the addition of more characters like Bella Belen and Shaina Nitura, there's more talent—and shenanigans—in Alas Pilipinas than ever before.
“’Yung generation namin, mataas talaga ‘yung confidence—sumayaw, kumanta, kahit hindi perfect. Pero kapag nagsama-sama, parang nadadala ‘yung isa’t isa," Eya said.
There’s a rhythm to their game: Eya’s swagger, Angel Canino’s power, Vanie Gandler's explosiveness, Bella Belen’s composure, Shaina Nitura’s spark.
It's a performance that feels almost choreographed—not because it’s rehearsed, but because their connection makes it effortless.
“’Yung importante sa amin is sama-sama. Parang may magnet na humahatak sa amin,” Eya said. “Nagkakahawaan kami ng energy.”
For Angel, the bond is real—and rare. “’Yung bonding na hindi pinilit. Parang lahat kami kaya naming kausapin ‘yung isa’t isa. ‘Yung connection, nandoon. Nagiging safe place na rin namin ‘yong isa’t isa.”
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That safe space allows them to be bold on the court and be themselves off of it. No school rivalries, no egos—just one team dancing to the same beat.
“Kapag happy ka, the more lalabas ang performance,” Belen shared. And clearly, this team is glowing.
From UAAP rivals to national teammates, their transformation is more than just tactical. It’s personal.
“Very happy po na may opportunity to play with my ates,” said Nitura, who made her Alas debut in this AVC tournament. “Kapag kasama ko sila, mahahawa ka talaga sa pagiging slay nila.”
"Masaya lang kasi we come from different universities but when we're together parang we've been friends for a long time," Gandler added.
"We all have one goal, which is to do our best for the country.
The TikToks may have sparked it, but what Alas has built goes far beyond a trend. It’s a team that moves like one, thinks like one, and wins like one.
And whether they’re grooving to BINI or grinding out four-set thrillers, one thing’s for sure: this generation doesn’t just play the game—they own it.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada)