Alas Pilipinas gets Fil-Am boost: Van Sickle, Phillips, Andaya join VTV Cup roster

The Philippine women’s national volleyball team has received a major boost ahead of the upcoming VTV Cup in Vietnam, as three standout Filipino-American stars are set to make their Alas Pilipinas debut.

Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito confirmed that Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Tia Andaya will suit up for the team in the VTV Cup, scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 5.

Van Sickle, the reigning Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season Most Valuable Player (MVP), has been training with the national team since her arrival from Hawaii. Phillips, Van Sickle’s teammate at Petro Gazz Angels, and Andaya of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, have also been participating in team practice sessions since before Alas’ historic silver medal finish in the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Nations Cup.

ALAS ROSTER FOR VTV CUP:
Brooke Van Sickle
Maddie Madayag
MJ Phillips
Jia De Guzman
Mars Alba
Tia Andaya
Lams Lamina
Amie Provido
Leila Cruz
Thea Gagate
Fifi Sharma
Alleiah Malaluan
Dawn Catindig
Justine Jazareno
Eya Laure
Vanie Gandler
Dell Palomata@INQUIRERSports

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 23, 2025

“For sure, she will help us as a team. As everybody knows, we are just waiting for her papers to be released. Until then, she is training with us to get ready to play for Alas. Van Sickle was the MVP in our last PVL All-Filipino, but volleyball is not an individual sport. She is adapting very well, just like MJ and Tia,” De Brito told reporters during the PVL On Tour.

De Brito announced a 17-woman pool for the VTV Cup, which will be trimmed down to 14 before the start of the tournament. The Brazilian tactician will continue to rely on the core of captain Jia De Guzman, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, and Dell Palomata—key players in their silver medal finish in the AVC Women’s Nations Cup.

Maddie Madayag, Amie Provido, Justine Jazareno, Mars Alba, and Alleiah Malaluan are among the new players called up, while Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Jen Nierva, Shaina Nitura, and Cla Loresco were not included in this cycle.

Alas Pilipinas is set to fly to Vietnam on Thursday, June 26, for the tournament, where they have been drawn into Group A alongside hosts Vietnam, Australia, and Sichuan Wuliangchun of China.

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