Team captain Jia De Guzman will lead Alas Pilipinas as they compete in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup from June 7-14 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Joining De Guzman as the setters are Julia Coronel of the Galeries Tower Highrisers and Lams Lamina of the defending UAAP champions National University Lady Bulldogs.

The wing spikers of the team for the tournament are Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Eya Laure, Shaina Nitura, Alyssa Solomon, Leila Cruz, and Vanie Gandler.

Manning the middle are Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Cla Loresco, and Dell Palomata. Meanwhile, sweeping the back row are liberos Dawn Catindig and Jen Nierva.

Only 12 players from the roster will be lined up in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup, while the other two players will be on the reserve list.

Here’s a closer look at the team’s composition.

Setters: De Guzman, Coronel, Lamina

Fresh from her stint in the Japanese V. League, Jia de Guzman will once again be the anchor of the team. In 2024, De Guzman’s steady leadership in the court was a key factor in the team’s historic bronze-medal finishes in several tournaments. De Guzman was awarded the Best Setter in the 2024 AVC Women’s Challenge Cup, the predecessor of the Nations Cup.

As a backup to De Guzman, Lams Lamina can also provide steady hands and similar-yet-different playmaking. Lamina led the National University Lady Bulldogs to three UAAP championships, and she is set to return next year.

Lastly, Julia Coronel currently plays as the setter of the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the PVL. She was part of the De La Salle University Lady Archers team that won the UAAP Season 85 championship.

Spikers: Belen, Canino, Laure, Nitura, Solomon, Cruz, Gandler

Alas Pilipinas has a deep roster in the open and opposite positions, led by the two Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player of the UAAP in Bella Belen and Angel Canino.

Belen, who is a three-time UAAP MVP, was fresh from her third championship for the National University Bulldogs. Belen has been donning the Philippine colors for a very long time and was part of multiple teams that competed internationally.

Canino won the Best Opposite Spiker award at the 2024 Asia Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup. In the UAAP, she was the heart and soul of the De La Salle University Lady Spikers team that settled for silver against Belen’s Lady Bulldogs.

Eya Laure may not be playing competitive volleyball after leaving the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the PVL, but she still proved that she has what it takes to be part of the national team. Laure was part of the Alas Pilipinas team that won Bronze in the 2024 Asia Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup, and in the first and second leg of the 2024 SEA Women’s V.League.

Shaina Nitura may be the youngest among the wing spikers, but her youth and athleticism could be a factor in the tournament. In her record-breaking rookie season with the Adamson University Lady Falcons, Nitura was awarded as the Rookie of the Year.

Fresh from her championship as part of the National University Lady Bulldogs, Alyssa Solomon returned to duty as probably the starting opposite spiker. Solomon won the Best Opposite Spiker in the 2024 SEA Women’s V.League – Second Leg and 2023 SEA Women’s V.League – Second Leg.

A surprise name on the list, Leila Cruz of the Capital1 Solar Spikers, was part of the De La Salle University Lady Spikers that won the championship in UAAP Season 85. Cruz was not on the wishlist by head coach Jorge de Brito, but she joined the team as Faith Nisperos, Tots Carlos, Eli Soyud, and Trai Troncoso begged off due to injuries.

Last but not least is Vanie Gandler from the Cignal HD Spikers. Gandler was part of last year’s team that won bronze in three tournaments.

Blockers: Gagate, Sharma, Loresco, Palomata

Leading the defense of Alas Pilipinas are four middle blockers who have been proving themselves in several leagues.

Thea Gagate of the Zue Coffee Thunderbelles was awarded as the 1st Best Middle Blocker in the 2024 SEA Women’s V.League – First Leg. She was also instrumental in the De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ reclaiming of the volleyball crown in Season 85.

Fifi Sharma of the Akari Chargers was part of the Alas Pilipinas team that won three bronze medals in 2024. She also played for the Lady Spikers in Season 85.

The veteran of the middle blocker club is Dell Palomata from the PLDT High Speed Hitters. She was a mainstay of the team that won three bronze medals in 2024.

The youngest of the brood is Cla Loresco from the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. Under the guidance of long-time national team member Tina Salak, Loresco can inject youthful energy into the team.

Liberos: Catindig, Nierva

Two of the best liberos in the Philippines will be sweeping the floor in Dawn Catindig and Jen Nierva.

Catindig served as the team captain of the Alas Pilipinas team when Jia De Guzman was not available, as she was playing in the Japanese V.League at the time. Catindig has been a member of the national team and was hailed as the 2nd Best Libero in the 2017 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Meanwhile, Nierva is part of the Alas Pilipinas team that won three bronze medals in 2024. She was awarded as the Best Libero in UAAP Season 84 as the National University Lady Bulldogs reclaimed the crown after 65 years.