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Adamson University standout Shaina Nitura. UAAP Media/file
MANILA – Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Jorge de Brito bared Sunday to ABS-CBN News the national team's final roster for its upcoming campaign at the AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup in Vietnam.
Set to make her senior national team debut is Shaina Nitura of Adamson University, who is expected to fuel the team's scoring needs and bring youthful energy.
READ: Shaina Nitura vows to work hard to be 'qualified' for Alas Pilipinas
Nitura previously vowed to be "qualified" to play for the national team.
"Since high school naman ako, isa sa mga pinaka-major dream ko rin is mapabilang sa national team talaga," the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year said in an interview at the media launch of 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League in Manila.
"Hindi ko pa talaga masabi kung gaano ako ka-ready, pero for sure, pagtatrabahuhan ko na maging better and qualified for the team," she added.
Also in the lineup are collegiate stars and ex-super rookies Bella Belen of National University and Angel Canino of De La Salle University, who have already played for Alas.
Belen said amid multiple engagements and commitments, she remains focused on national team duties.
"National team muna po ang focus ko kasi sunod-sunod po liga ng national team," said Belen.
READ: Angel Canino ready to wear Alas Pilipinas jersey again, no matter what her position is
Canino, who previously won the AVC Best Opposite Spiker award in the Women's Challenge Cup, said she's ready to play for Alas no matter what her position is.
"I don't know yet pa kung talagang outside hitter ba ako or opposite sa national team, but kahit anong position naman, lagi ko sinasabi kay coach Jorge [de Brito] na ready ako na mag-perform sa kahit anong position ibigay sa akin," said Canino after a UAAP game on April 2.
READ: Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino helps PH end 63-year medal drought in AVC
As expected, Alas Pilipinas leader De Guzman, fresh from a stint in Japan with the Denso Airybees, will be setting up the team, while co-captain and Cignal HD libero Dawn Catindig will be at the defensive side of things.
READ: Jia de Guzman joins Alas Pilipinas training, gears up for 2025 season
Joining are holdovers libero Jennifer Nierva, spikers Eya Laure and Vanie Gandler, middle blockers Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma and Dell Palomata, and setter Julia Coronel.
Bannering the wing is, once again, two-time SEA V.League Best Opposite Alyssa Solomon of the NU Lady Bulldogs.
Far Eastern University middle blocker Cla Loresco, Capital1 opposite spiker Leila Cruz, and National University playmaker Lams Lamina also made the cut.
The AVC Nations Cup is scheduled from June 7 to 14 in Hanoi, Vietnam, and marks the first tournament in a long campaign leading up to the Southeast Asian Games in December in Thailand.
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