POWER hitting spiker Brooke Van Sickle and two more Filipino-Americans will make their Alas Pilipinas women’s debut in the coming VTV Cup in Vietnam.
Van Sickle, middle blocker MJ Phillips of the Petro Gazz Angels and setter Tia Andaya, a rookie for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, are expected to represent the country in the eight-team tournament, which will begin on June 29.
The trio has been participating in Alas’ training and will likely join the mainstays led by skipper Jia De Guzman, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Eya Laure, Dawn Catindig, Vanie Gandler and Dell Palomata.
The likes of Maddie Madayag, Mars Alba, Camilla Lamina, and Justine Jazareno are also in the squad that will have Alleiah Malaluan, Leila Cruz, and Amie Provido as first-timers.
Young guns Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura and Clarisse Loresco will sit out the week-long contest.
The Filipina spikers will collide with host Vietnam’s national team, Australia’s national team and Chinese squad Sichuan Wuliangchun in Pool A.
Pool B, on the other hand, is composed of the Chinese Taipei national team, Russian squad Korabelka, Thailand’s EstCola and Vietnam’s Under-21 team.
Two weeks ago, the Filipina belles faced the Vietnamese in the finals of the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup, where the Philippines finished as bridesmaids.
The silver medal run, however, proved to be historic for the country—its highest finish in an AVC-sanctioned tournament in 64 years.
The last time that the Philippines captured a medal in the VTV Cup was back in 2023 when the Choco Mucho Flying Titans bagged the bronze medal.
The Jorge Souza de Brito-mentored Alas women will begin their bid against Vietnam.
