BOOSTED by blue-chip additions, the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team is gearing up for a tough battle in the FIVB Women’s Challenger Cup where the country will serve as host.
The Philippines will protect home territory in the meet set from July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The FIVB Women’s Challenger Cup, which will have Vietnam, Kenya, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Belgium, serves as a qualifying tournament for the prestigious Volleyball Nations League.
Led by skipper and veteran playmaker Jia De Guzman, the Alas women spikers will take on Southeast Asian powerhouse Vietnam, winner of last month’s AVC Challenge Cup for Women, which was also held in the country.
“Well, we’re doing our best to prepare well kasi ngayon medyo sure naman po na Vietnam ang makakalaban namin so we’ve seen them play in person in AVC,” De Guzman, who won the Best Setter in the last AVC Challenge Cup, said.
“Araw-araw we’re taking it a day at a time, preparing, taking advantage of iyong preparation namin this time compared to noon before AVC so hopefully, better results din kami,” she added.
The Filipina spikers bolstered their arsenal by adding PVL stars Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos along with collegiate aces Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
“We’re grateful na na-reinforced pa kami lalo kasi we had a very good lineup noong AVC and we’re welcoming every help that we can get,” De Guzman said. “Grabe rin iyong experience noong tatlo and we’re hoping na madagdagan pa kami para in the long run mas malalim pa iyong bench namin.
