VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR — Filipino-American standouts Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya are set to make their long-awaited debuts for Alas Pilipinas Women in the upcoming VTV Cup in Vietnam set from June 28 to July 5.
The development was confirmed by national team head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, who welcomed the trio's inclusion ahead of the team's campaign in the prestigious invitational tournament.
Van Sickle, the reigning Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season MVP from Petro Gazz, has been training with the team since her arrival from Hawaii. Meanwhile, Phillips, also from Petro Gazz, and Andaya—recently drafted by Choco Mucho in the 2025 PVL Draft—have been part of the national pool’s practices since prior to Alas' historic silver-medal finish in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup earlier this month.
“For sure, she will help us as a team. As everybody knows, we’re just waiting for her papers to be released. Until then, she’s training with us to get ready to play for Alas,” De Brito said of Van Sickle, whose dynamic wing play and MVP credentials add firepower to the lineup.
The trio's arrival further bolsters a deep 17-woman pool that will be trimmed to 14 before the start of the tournament. The lineup includes familiar faces from the recent AVC campaign and some exciting returnees.
Joining the squad are Justine Jazareno (Akari), Leila Cruz (Capital1), Alleiah Malaluan (PLDT), and Amie Provido (La Salle), who reunite with fellow La Salle stalwarts Mars Alba, Thea Gagate (ZUS Coffee), and Fifi Sharma (Akari).
Veteran setter and team captain Jia De Guzman (Creamline) will once again steer the squad, supported by liberos Dawn Catindig (Cignal) and Lams Lamina (NU). The frontline presence will be reinforced by middle blocker Dell Palomata (PLDT) and versatile attackers Eya Laure (free agent), Vanie Gandler (Cignal), and Maddie Madayag (Choco Mucho).
Notably, several players from the AVC Nations Cup silver-medal team will be sitting out the VTV Cup, including Bella Belen (Capital1), Angel Canino (DLSU), Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura (Adamson), Jennifer Nierva (Chery Tiggo), Clarisse Loresco (FEU), and Julia Coronel (Galleries).
