Vietnam head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet had high praise for Alas Pilipinas standouts Angel Canino and Bella Belen, whose stellar performances were instrumental in the Philippines’ historic silver-medal finish at the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup.
Nguyen expressed admiration for the duo’s consistent impact throughout the tournament, emphasizing how they rose above the challenge despite being undersized compared to many of their opponents.
“In addition to the familiar faces, player No. 12 and No. 4 stood out with impressive performances despite their modest height,” said Nguyen through an interpreter, following Vietnam’s dominant 25-15, 25-17, 25-14 victory over the Philippines in the gold medal match last Saturday.
While Canino was limited to just four points and Belen to one in the finals, both played pivotal roles in Alas’ unprecedented campaign, which marked the country’s highest-ever finish in the AVC’s 64-year history.
Canino, a La Salle standout and last year’s Best Opposite Spiker, was recognized this time as the First Best Outside Spiker. She led the Philippines in scoring with an average of 12.33 points per game.
Meanwhile, Belen, the former National University ace, emerged as the team’s second-leading scorer with 8.3 points per game, all while anchoring the team’s floor defense with her trademark tenacity.
Nguyen also noted that the Philippines’ grueling five-set semifinal win over Chinese Taipei may have impacted their performance in the championship match. He acknowledged that with more rest, the outcome could have been different.
“Every victory is sweet, but winning on home ground is especially exhilarating. It truly delighted our fans here,” said Nguyen.
“The Philippines delivered an outstanding campaign. However, they may have been drained after their exhausting five-set match in the semifinals. That fatigue could have affected their energy in the finals,” he added.
Based on what he has seen over the past year, Nguyen believes the Philippines is fast becoming a formidable presence in Asian volleyball. He expects the team to remain a strong challenger in future competitions, including the Southeast Asian Games.
“Nevertheless, the Philippines will undoubtedly remain a serious contender for Vietnam this year,” Nguyen concluded.
