At A Glance
- Alas Pilipinas begins its quest for a fitting start when it battles host Vietnam in the opener of the 2026 SEA Women's V Cup (formerly V.League) at the Đông Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi Friday, July 31.
Alas Women (Alas Pilipinas Volley IG post)
Alas Pilipinas begins its quest for a fitting start when it battles host Vietnam in the opener of the 2026 SEA Women’s V Cup (formerly V.League) at the Đông Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi Friday, July 31.
Fueled to better their bronze-medal finish last year, the Nationals, captained by Jia De Guzman, look forward to a stunning victory, perhaps spoiling the joy of the local crowd, against the region’s perennial powerhouse and previous edition’s second leg champion Vietnam in their 7 p.m. encounter.
Also seeing in action in the four-team meet are last year’s Leg 1 winner Thailand and Indonesia, which figure at 4 p.m.
Sans Angel Canino and Shai Nitura, the Filipina tossers, who once achieved a historic silver in the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup, will have mainstay and Capital1 stars Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos.
Other stars from professional ranks are also fielded including setter Mars Alba, and top hitters Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, and Dell Palomata, and liberos Jen Nierva, Justin Jazareno, and Dawn Catindig.
Alyssa Solomon and Niña Ytang, both still unsigned in any pro teams, are also fielded as well as National University veterans Vangge Alinsug and Celine Marsh.
Under new head coach Taka Minowa, the Filipina spikers aim to improve on their previous bronze medal finish in two previous legs.
This is also a key part of its buildup for tougher assignments at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games in Japan, where Alas Men are also qualified, this September.