Alas Pilipinas enters a crucial stretch in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup with a must-win match against New Zealand on Wednesday, June 11, at the Dong Anh Arena in Hanoi.

Holding a 2-1 record after a heartbreaking loss to Iran on Monday, the Philippine women’s volleyball team needs to beat both New Zealand and Kazakhstan to secure a semifinal spot in the 11-nation tournament. New Zealand, coming off their first win in a five-set thriller over Mongolia, will pose a test for the Filipinas.

Canino confident, Morado-de Guzman provides leadership

Angel Canino has emerged as the consistent spark for Alas Pilipinas, expressing confidence in their chances against the Kiwis.

“Ate Jia [Morado-de Guzman] keeps our spirits up,” Canino said during Tuesday’s rest day. “She told us that we have more matches coming up and that we keep our chins up—we fight to the end.”

Canino, a former UAAP top rookie and MVP, has played a key role in the team’s success so far and remains focused on helping the team bounce back.

Coach de Brito urges mental toughness

Head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito used the break to inspire the team, stressing a no-quit mentality. “The mindset is to always fight hard,” he said, rallying the players for the battles ahead.

In the current AVC 2025 standings, Kazakhstan and Iran top Pool B with 3-0 records, while Indonesia and Mongolia remain winless at 0-3. Over in Pool A, Vietnam leads with a 2-0 slate, followed by Chinese-Taipei (2-1), Australia (1-1), Hong Kong (1-2), and India (0-2).

Only the top two teams in each group will move on to the semifinals, making the remaining matches crucial for Alas Pilipinas.