Alas Pilipinas let its volleyball do the talking.
Amid questions surrounding its preparation and a roster assembled on short notice, the Philippine women’s national team delivered a dominant statement on Saturday, sweeping Uzbekistan, 25-16, 25-12, 25-14, to begin its 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup campaign.
The victory gave the Philippines a 1-0 start in Pool A while showcasing the impact of its veteran core led by Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Ces Molina.
Valdez starred in her return to national team duty, finishing with a game-high 14 points built on 11 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace, while also contributing 8 excellent digs.
“Napakasaya sa pakiramdam. We never really thought na we’re gonna go back here together,” said Valdez, who reunited with Gonzaga, Molina, and interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos after previously representing the country during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“But andito kami, so we’ll take this opportunity para makapag-share rin ng knowledge sa mga bata na nasa national team.”
Veterans Lead Alas Pilipinas
Gonzaga turned back the clock with 12 points on 10 attacks and 2 aces to go along with 13 excellent digs, while Molina registered a double-double of 11 points and 15 excellent digs.
One of the brightest performances came from national team newcomer Niña Ytang, who impressed in her Alas debut with 12 points built on 8 attacks and 4 kill blocks.
Thea Gagate also chipped in 8 points as the Philippines wrapped up the match in just 1 hour and 8 minutes.
Balanced Attack and Net Defense
After Uzbekistan briefly grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening set, Alas Pilipinas quickly settled down and seized control behind its balanced offense and aggressive net defense.
The Philippines never looked back, overwhelming the Uzbeks in the second and third sets to complete a convincing straight-sets victory.
For Delos Santos, the result was a testament to the team’s ability to stay focused despite the challenges surrounding its buildup.
“Siyempre happy kami and proud sa team kasi siyempre alam niyo naman kung ano ’yung mga pinagdaanan namin, but knowing them, especially ’yung mga veteran player namin, ’yung leadership, grabe ’yung impact,” said Delos Santos.
Overcoming Adversity
The victory comes after several key national team players opted out of the tournament amid the uncertainty surrounding the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation, forcing Alas Pilipinas to quickly assemble a new-look roster for the competition.
Still, the blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent proved more than enough in the tournament opener.
Malikakhon Tursunpulatova paced Uzbekistan with 10 points and 8 excellent digs, while Zebokhon Absamatova added 6 markers. Dilnoza Boymirzaeva and Nigina Mirzaeva contributed 5 points apiece.
Alas Pilipinas will look to build on the strong start when it faces Australia in its second Pool A assignment on Sunday, June 7.
