The dream run for Alas Pilipinas Women’s Volleyball Team in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup (VCC) ended tonight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Though they entered the competition as underdogs, the Philippine squad battled valiantly but ultimately fell short of clinching a spot in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.
Organized locally by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc. (PNVF), Alas Pilipinas displayed a strong fighting spirit throughout the tournament. Dell Palomata, a standout middle blocker who suits up for both Alas Pilipinas and the PLDT High Speed Hitters, echoed the team’s unwavering dedication: “Handa kami laging lumaban para sa bansa namin, at sana naman ay mapasaya naming lahat ang manonood sa amin laban sa Vietnam (We are ready to play for our country, and we hope to make people happy in our game against Vietnam),” she had said before the crucial match against Vietnam.
Palomata, the 2022 PVL Invitational Conference 2nd Best Middle Blocker, emphasized the importance of the extended training period and Filipino support. Their commitment and resilience were evident throughout the competition.
The team, captained by Jia de Guzman and coached by Jorge Souza de Brito, had come off a bronze medal win at the AVC Challenge Cup just two months prior. Bolstered by the recent additions of open hitters Jema Galanza and two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, Alas Pilipinas possessed a strong roster.
With Cherry Nunag stepping in for Jen Nierva as the second libero, the team fielded a competitive line-up that also included AVC Challenge Cup Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino, Sisi Rondina, Vanie Gandler, Faith Nisperos, Julia Coronel, and Arah Panique.
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Other teams participating in the tournament, co-presented by PLDT Home, include Sweden, the European Golden League champion, the Czech Republic, the silver medalist, and Belgium. Rounding out the eight-nation conclave are Vietnam, Argentina, Kenya, and Puerto Rico.
Despite the challenging competition, Palomata remained optimistic: “Mahirap man ang makakalaban, ngunit kakayanin namin ito dahil sa lakas ng loob at tiwala ng ating mga kababayan (Against tough competition, we get inspiration and courage from our fellow Filipinos who continually believe in us).”
While they fell short of their ultimate goal, Alas Pilipinas undoubtedly gained valuable experience and showcased their growing potential on the international stage. The team’s strong chemistry, fostered in part by the strategic composition of PVL and PNVF, was a positive takeaway from the tournament.