Alas Pilipinas to face Vietnam in FIVB Challenger Cup opener

MANILA, July 1 ------ Alas Pilipinas will open the FIVB Women's Volleyball Challenger Cup against a fierce opponent. The Filipina aces, who recently won bronze in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women, will face the tilt's gold medalists Vietnam on July 5 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, but PNVF president Ramon "Tats" Suzara remains upbeat about their chances. 

"It's tough on Day 1 for Alas Pilipinas, but we're very sure they'll give the Vietnamese a tough fight," acknowledged Suzara. The Alas-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. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico and Kenya open hostilities on July 4 at 3 p.m. while Belgium and Sweden slug it out at 5 p.m. 

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). Heading the charge of Alas is AVC Challenge Cup Best Setter and team captain Jia Morado-De Guzman as well as Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino, while expected to join them are Creamline Cool Smashers star Jema Galanza and National University duo Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.  

Completing their pool is projected Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024 top pick Thea Gagate together with Fifi Sharma, Sisi Rondina, EYa Laure, Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Julia Coronel, Jen Nierva, Dell Palomata, Cherry Nunag and Arah Panique. 

Source: news.abs-cbn.com