Young Stars Shine as Alas Pilipinas Eyes Bigger Goals After SEA V.League Bronze

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by Misha Cruz

Angel Canino (12), Jia De Guzman (11), and the rest of Alas Pilipinas celebrate their SEA V.League bronze medal win. Photo: SAVA.

Alas Pilipinas may have fallen short of surpassing its bronze finish in the first leg of the 5th SEA V.League, but the team's emerging talents offered a promising glimpse into the future of Philippine volleyball.

The national squad ended their campaign on a strong note with a four-set victory over Indonesia, 25–20, 25–20, 16–25, 25–13, last Sunday, August 3. The win spared the Filipinas from a winless run after earlier defeats to Southeast Asian powerhouses Thailand and Vietnam.

Among the brightest standouts was 22-year-old Angel Canino, who earned the Best Outside Spiker honors for the tournament’s first leg. It marked her second international award this year, having previously bagged the same recognition at the AVC Challenge Cup last June—where she shared the spotlight with Vietnam’s Trần Thị Thanh Thúy.

“Getting closer to the goal. Still a long way to go,” Canino shared in a post-match reflection on social media, signaling her hunger for greater achievements.

Angel Canino (12) and Dell Palomata (13) react during their bronze medal game against Indonesia. Photo: SAVA.

Canino’s rising star is just one among many in this promising national roster. She was part of the historic AVC silver medal team that included key players like veteran setter Jia De Guzman, middle blocker Dell Palomata, and outside hitters Eya Laure, Bella Belen, and Vanie Gandler.

With a 1-2 record to close out the first leg, the Jorge de Brito-coached squad remains focused on breaking through the regional elite. Their next chance comes quickly, with the second leg of the SEA V.League set for August 8 to 10. The team is determined to finally snag a breakthrough win against either Thailand or Vietnam—both of whom have consistently stood in their way.

According to head coach de Brito, the ongoing international tournaments are key in preparing the team for the bigger stage ahead: the Southeast Asian Games later this year in Thailand. For now, though, the focus remains on building chemistry, sharpening skills, and turning flashes of brilliance into consistent success.

With young guns like Canino leading the way, the future of Alas Pilipinas looks brighter than ever.