CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Niña Ytang cherished the “once-in-a-lifetime” experience of sharing the court with some of the Philippines’ best volleyball players in her first stint with Alas Pilipinas in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup.
“For me, I’m just very, very grateful for the experience that I am experiencing right now, with my Ates. Of course, I will cherish these memories with them,” said Ytang of the opportunity to learn from the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ces Molina, and Ara Galang.
Ytang was one of the brighter spots in the Philippines’ campaign in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup, where the team finished eighth — its worst showing since making its debut in 2023 — following a straight-sets loss to Iran in the qualification phase.
The four-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker averaged 7.83 points in six games in the continental tilt, starting strong with back-to-back double-digit outings before tapering off as the competition wore on.
Ytang said she believes the team gave everything it had throughout the tournament, stressing that each player poured in full effort despite the tough stretch and difficult circumstances they faced.
“I can say that we did everything we could. We tried our best every game, every game we gave all that we could do,” said the former University of the Philippines standout.
For what it’s worth, Ytang remains grateful for the experience. She views the campaign as a valuable learning opportunity and something she can build on as she looks forward to future national team stints.
“You know, it’s just a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, so it’s been my dream to play with them. So I’m very, very grateful for all the experiences that I have right now.”
