Alas Pilipinas begins its 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup campaign on Saturday afternoon against a relatively unknown Mongolia squad in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Philippine women’s national volleyball team is set to face Mongolia at 4 p.m. in Pool B action, which also includes Kazakhstan, Iran, Indonesia, and New Zealand. The tournament will follow a single round-robin format in the group stage.
The final 14-player lineup for Alas Pilipinas features outside hitters Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Shaina Nitura, Eya Laure, and Vanie Gandler, while Alyssa Solomon and Clarisse Loresco will serve as the team’s opposite spikers.
Veteran setter Jia De Guzman leads the squad, supported by backup setter Julia Coronel. Dawn Catindig and Jen Nierva are tasked with bolstering the team’s defense as liberos.
Manning the middle are Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, and Dell Palomata. Setter Camilla Lamina and opposite hitter Leila Cruz complete the team as reserves.
This marks the inaugural edition of the Nations Cup, a rebranded version of the AVC Challenge Cup.
In the previous edition of the Challenge Cup, Alas Pilipinas captured a historic bronze medal—the country's first-ever podium finish in a continental tournament. De Guzman was named Best Setter, while Canino earned Best Opposite Spiker honors during the competition held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Following their opener against Mongolia, the Philippines will take on Indonesia on June 8, Iran on June 9, New Zealand on June 11, and Kazakhstan on June 12—Independence Day.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals, while the remaining teams will compete in the classification round.
Pool A includes host Vietnam, along with Australia, India, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong.
