Niña Ytang continues to make the most of her opportunity with Alas Pilipinas, embracing every lesson that comes with her first major international tournament as a member of the national team.
The former University of the Philippines standout has been one of the Philippines’ most consistent performers through its first two matches in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup, delivering back-to-back double-digit scoring outputs against Uzbekistan and Australia.
Ytang opened her campaign with 12 points built on 8 attacks and 4 kill blocks in Alas Pilipinas’ dominant 25-16, 25-12, 25-14 victory over Uzbekistan.
She followed that up with another strong showing on Sunday, finishing with 13 points on 9 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block despite the Philippines’ five-set loss to Australia.
Ytang Relishing Lessons Being Learned
While the numbers have highlighted her immediate impact, Ytang believes the biggest gains have come from the lessons she continues to absorb from the team’s veterans and coaching staff.
“I would say marami po akong natutunan, lalo na sa sarili ko,” said Ytang.
“Of course, laging andiyan ’yung mga ates and coaches na laging nagga-guide. Sa ngayon, more on lessons lang talaga ’yung focus ko ngayon.”
The 24-year-old middle blocker chose to forego the 2026 PVL Draft to prioritize her national team commitments—a decision that has quickly paid dividends as she establishes herself as a valuable piece of the Alas Pilipinas rotation.
Aside from providing scoring and a strong presence at the net, Ytang has also brought energy and stability to a squad that was assembled only weeks before the tournament.
Lots of Room for Improvement
As Alas Pilipinas continues its campaign, the four-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker believes there are still areas the team must improve, particularly in building chemistry and maintaining composure during crucial stretches of matches.
“I think it’s the composure and ’yung connection sa isa’t isa po,” she said.
“Laging communication, lalo na mahirap po na kakasama lang namin, so communication and composure sa loob ng court.”
With valuable international experience now coming her way and veteran teammates helping guide her transition to the national team level, Ytang remains focused on learning and growing as Alas Pilipinas pushes forward in the tournament.
