Three-time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle and former Rookie of the Year Thea Gagate have been left out of the initial roster as Alas Pilipinas Women gears up for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, set from December 10 to 19 at Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand.
In the initial 14-woman lineup submitted last September 1 for the entry-by-name deadline, La Salle middle blocker Amie Provido and PLDT rookie Alleiah Malaluan replaced Van Sickle and Gagate.
Alas are slotted in Pool A alongside host Thailand and Singapore, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
The Philippines is hoping for a breakthrough finish after placing fourth in each of the last four editions of the tournament.
(C) AVC
Leading the charge for the national team are the core members of the historic squad that clinched silver in this year’s AVC Challenge Cup, bannered by team captain Jia De Guzman of Creamline, La Salle superstar Angel Canino, and PLDT middle blocker Dell Palomata.
De Guzman will share playmaking duties with Akari’s Mars Alba, while the wing spiker rotation will be one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Japan-based opposite Alyssa Solomon (JT Marvelous), Bella Belen (Capital1), Shaina Nitura (Adamson), Vanie Gandler (Cignal), and free agent Eya Laure will bolster the attack line alongside Canino and Malaluan.
Maddie Madayag of Choco Mucho joins Palomata and Provido to complete a solid trio in the middle.
Anchoring the floor defense are Cignal’s Dawn Catindig and Akari’s Justine Jazareno, who will serve as the team’s liberos.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Anthony “Tony Boy” Liao said the final roster remains subject to change as they are still awaiting the green light from the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The squad will once again be under the guidance of Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, who steered the program to its recent international surge.
