Alas Pilipinas braces for FIVB Challenger Cup

Angel Canino (left) PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO

MANILA, Philippines — THE Alas Pilipinas women's mettle gets to undergo another acid test in the FIVB Women' Volleyball Challenger Cup the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is hosting from July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

A historic bronze medalist in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women last month, the Alas Women, however, have to contend with the same team that denied them a shot at the gold in the continental tournament—Vietnam.

"It's tough on Day 1 for Alas Pilipinas, but we're very sure they'll give the Vietnamese a tough fight," PNVF president Ramon "Tats" Suzara said.

The Alas Pilipinas-Vietnam duel is set at 6:30 p.m. on July 5 after the duel between the Czech Republic and Argentina at 3 p.m.

On July 4,

Puerto Rico and Kenya open hostilities at 3 p.m. while Belgium and Sweden slug it out at 5 p.m. on July 4.

Winners advance to the semifinals until the finale also under a win-or-go-home format of the tournament where the top team qualifies for next year's Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

The PNVF is hosting another major international competition with the hangover from the highly-successful VNL Men's Week 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena still lingering.

Alas Pilipinas is still savoring the third place finish—the best by the country on the continental stage—in the AVC Challenge Cup where team captain Jia Morado-De Guzman and Angel Canino were named the Best Setter and Best Opposite Spiker, respectively.

Pro star Jema Galanza and collegiate aces Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon were added to the team of Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito which also has 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. TMT