ONE miss and you’re out.

The FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup for Women will not only provide the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team the chance to toughen up in a tournament where it has to show up with near perfect games but also ice the series of dry run meets ahead of the country’s first-time and solo hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025.

“We’re down to 14 months and at the rate we’re going, we look forward to aiming for a well-hosted world championship in 2025,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara as he thanked the FIVB for acknowledging the federation’s successful hosting of the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 two weeks ago at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

“The Philippine’s love for volleyball was clear, setting the stage for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025,” the FIVB said in its official website. “The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Men’s pool in Manila … attracted a massive turnout of 45,886 fans eager to witness world-class volleyball, an exciting sign of what is to come for the upcoming FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 in the country.”

LESS than a week before the maiden PVL rookie Draft, eight-time champion Creamline intends to pick the best possible talent.

“Actually, mayroon naman (ina-eye na position of player), depende lang sa situation na mangyayari kung sino iyong 1 to 11 na makukuha,” Cool Smashes coach Sherwin Meneses said.

“Sa lahat ng position may strategy kami kaso iyon nga depende kung sino iyong top 11 picks kasi No. 12 kami so napakahirap magsabi ng specific, isang position lang,” he added.

The proceedings are set July 8 at the Novotel Manila, with Creamline selecting last after ruling the season-opening All-Filipino Conference.

Meneses was present during the two-day Draft Combine last week and scoured for their prospects.

The champion tactician commended the Draft Combine as it gave an opportunity to all the draftees a chance to show their potential,

“Malaking bagay iyong Draft Combine kasi lahat may chance na magpakita ng skills, kahit iyong iba na hindi masyado kilala may mga chances sila so dapat mag-focus sila sa ginagawa nila,” Meneses said.

Meneses is also upbeat on the Cool Smashers’ American reinforcement Erica Staunton ahead of the import-spiced Reinforced Conference set to start on July 16.

Staunton is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter who played for Northeastern University and University of Georgia in the United States NCAA Division 1 before going to Finland with Oriveden Ponnistus.

“As of now, OKay naman kasi time lang talaga makakapagsabi kasi very young iyong import naming madali maka adapt sa system,” he said.

LED by Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team star Angel Canino, the Filipina spikers are out to show their true worth in FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup set to begin on Thursday.

With less than a week before the meet, the Alas women squad will try to defend home soil in the eight-nation competition at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The VCC is a qualifying tournament for the prestigious FIVB Volleyball Nations League where the top teams in the world collide.

Alas, currently ranked world No. 55, won the country’s first medal in 63 years in an Asian-level tourney following a bronze medal outcome in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women last May.

“Well, I think everyone is looking forward naman po kasi it’s a new challenge for us especially, iyon nga, bago lang din po iyong team namin,” Canino said. “We’re looking forward to it and isa lang iyong sinasabi namin to enjoy every moment because it’s a new challenge for us, a new pressure but magandang experience to for us.

“There will always be a pressure on my part po, siyempre kapag may nakuha kang achievement before,” she added.

TOWERING veteran spiker Dindin Santiago-Manabat is the newest addition to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, who aim to soar higher in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference kicking off next month.

“Brace yourselves for another sweet conference! Dindin Santiago-Manabat, a multi-awarded powerhouse, is set to change the pace!” the team posted on their social media account. “Welcome to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans fam, Dindin Santiago-Manabat!”

The 6-foot-2 spiker last played for the Akari Chargers, seeing action in four tournaments since 2023.

This is the third squad of the decorated hitter since joining the league with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, earning a championship with them in the 2021 PVL Open Conference.

The Flying Titans will now boast a formidable offence as Manabat joins a team that already has ace spiker Cherry Ann Rondina and middle blocker Cherry Nunag, who, however, are expected to miss the Reinforced Conference due to national team duties.

AFTER their bronze medal finish in the last AVC Challenge Cup, Alas Pilipinas national women’s team coach Jorge Souza de Brito intends to have his charges making an even bigger impact in the FIVB Challenger Cup opening on July 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“We have more time now that the guys are together longer. Since we have more time, we can prepare better,” said Souza de Brito over the weekend during the last match day of the Volleyball Nations League at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

“The expectations are supposed to be always high so we have to work really hard and not stay idle so we can match if not surpass our performance in the last AVC Challenge Cup,” the Brazilian tactician said.

He bared that Premier Volleyball League star Jema Galanza and two-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen have been added to the national pool, but multi-awarded spiker Tots Carlos will be sidelined for the forthcoming tourney.

“We have the same players. Of course, we’re gonna add but for but now we have 18 players, including Jema (Galanza), (Bella) Belen. The pool is almost complete,” De Brito said.

“Tots Carlos is a valuable player but Rebisco will issue statement about her national team absence soon,” he said.

He revealed that he and his wards are bracing for a clash with newly-crowned AVC Challenger Cup champ Vietnam, saying: “It’s always hard to play Vietnam but we intend to prepare hard against them.”

GERMANY wrapped up its Volleyball Nations League campaign yesterday by scoring a dominant 25-20, 25-23, 25-20 over error-marred Iran at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Germans finished with five wins and seven losses, with outside hitter Moritz Karlitzek firing 21 points, 17 from attacks, two blocks and two service aces.

Outside spiker Moritz Reichert had 13 markers while Tobias Krick and Ruben Schott combined for eight points.

“We’re super happy that we finished the VNL with a victory and can go home with a good feeling,” Karlitzek told reporters.

The 27-year-old hard-hitting spiker also commended the country’s hosting of the prestigious VNL contest.

“Well, I can speak about (how) the tournament here was perfectly organized. We felt really well and also playing in front of the crowd was amazing. The fans were all the time supporting us so we had a good time.

“Thank you for supporting us and making this event nice and well,” he said.

Opposite spiker Amin Esmaeilnezhad led the scoring load for the Iranians, who committed 26 unforced errors, with 19 points while outside hitter Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh Firouzjah added 10 markers.

Iran ended its campaign with two victories and 10 defeats.

“Thank you to all the Philippine fans. They are really incredible and when we’re out here, there’s too much burst of energy from them. For sure, we will do our best for them. Thank you to all the Philippine fans,” said Esmaeilnezhad.