THE Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team will be without captain Jia Morado-de Guzman when the national women’s squad plays a series of friendlies starting Saturday against two top-level Japanese clubs.
De Guzman recently re-signed with the Denso Airybees for the coming Japan SV.League season, and will stay in Japan for the duration of national team’s tuneup games in Manila.
But even without De Guzman, national women’s coach Jorge Edson de Brito said his players are in good shape, and ready for action.
“They’re in good condition. They’re healthy,” said De Brito in a interview with the Manila Standard during a volleyball presentation at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Mandaluyong.
Alas Women will tackle the Saga Hisamitsu Springs’ side at the Philsports Arena at 3 p.m., while the Alas men’s team will confront Osaka Bluteon.
The friendlies, dubbed as the “Alas Pilipinas Invitationals,” will also happen on Sunday.
The event is part of the one-year countdown for the country’s hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said he has asked De Brito and Angiolino Frigoni to search for new players who can be part of the national squad.
“We are focused on preparing the under-16, the under-18 and the senior national teams. But, now I asked the two coaches to get recruits in the provinces. There might be tall and talented players out there,” said Suzara.
The friendlies take place a week before the draw for the the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship (MWCH).
Back-to-back Olympic champion France and world No. 1 Poland lead the 32-nation field that’s competing in the tournament.
Games Saturday (PhilSports Arena)
3 p.m. – Alas Pilipinas women vs Hisamitsu Springs
6 p.m. – Alas Pilipinas men vs Osaka Blueton
