Alas Pilipinas women celebrate a point during the AVC Nations Cup semifinals against Chinese Taipei. The Filipinos advanced to the final. –AVC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas will have the troika of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Angel Canino back in the SEA V-League first leg from August 1 to 3 in Thailand.
Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito revealed the roster to Inquirer with Belen, Canino, and Solomon, the key players of their AVC Nations Cup runner-up finish, returning to action after skipping the VTV Cup.
READ: Alas has no problems playing with higher expectations
De Brito, though, bared that Filipino-American players Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya are “not yet cleared” to play in the tournament as their federation transfer is still in process.
Also returning to the roster are Adamson’s UAAP Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura and Cla Loresco, as an opposite spiker, joining outside spiker Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler as well as Leila Cruz, who shone in the VTV Cup as the main opposite.
Nations Cup Best Middle Blocker Dell Palomata will lead the frontline with mainstays Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, and veteran Maddie Madayag.
READ: Alas Pilipinas’ deep pool a ‘good problem’ for coach De Brito
Mars Alba will also make her debut with captain Jia De Guzman, while Justine Jazareno and Dawn Macandili-Catindig will take care of the floor.
“They are our option for this two legs of SEA V LEAGUE,” De Brito told Inquirer. “Mars will make ger debut this year. We trust all of them.”
Alas is looking to surpass its two bronze medal finishes in the V.League last year when it opens its campaign against defending champion and host Thailand on Aug. 1, before wrapping up the first leg against Nations Cup champion Vietnam a day later and then Indonesia on Aug. 3.
The second leg will be held in Vietnam from August 8 to August 10.
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