MORE than a few unconventional changes have clouded over Alas Pilipinas just days before its return to the international stage on home soil in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup.
From late player exits to last-minute role changes and reversals, puzzled Filipino fans continue to search for answers — particularly on Jema Galanza’s positional swaps from outside hitter to libero and back, Cherry Nunag’s eventual conversion as libero, and the surprise absences of Alas mainstays Eya Laure and Jen Nierva.
And on the eve of the Philippines’ knockout quarterfinal against Asian powerhouse Vietnam, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito settled the score on those surprise roster changes.
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The Brazilian shared how Nunag’s second libero role came as a result of acknowledging Galanza - his initial defensive specialist replacement - was a two-way asset he just couldn’t let go of.
“Every time we have a problem, we have to solve the problem. So the best solution for the team now is not for (Galanza) to play as a libero, but to have another open (hitter) to be an option to serve and receive. And Jema, you know, she can do this."
“That’s the kind of decision to benefit the team and to help the team,” said de Brito.
De Brito did tip his hat to Nunag, who despite being a formidable middle blocker, took on the challenge of an unexpected role change for the team's best interest.
While fans were quick to suggest searching for player replacements outside the existing Alas pool, de Brito stressed how late additions were no longer feasible, forcing him to resort to role-switching instead.
“We also have to be thankful for Cherry Nunag because it’s so hard to just change positions to help the teamm but this is the case, exactly the case. She hasn’t been a libero. She’s in a position to be a libero to give us a chance to have another player to make a role as a serve-receive specialist since you cannot change the players," he stated.
“We cannot add players because our lineup is already done since last June.”
Crossovers out, champion-MVPs in
With the likes of top-caliber aces in Alyssa Solomon, Tots Carlos, and Casiey Dongallo begging off from national team duties for rest and recovery reasons, Alas still didn’t run short of high-profile reinforcements in Galanza and two-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen.
Belen, who rejoined Alas training two days before the tournament opener after National University’s celebratory team trip to Korea, is a key inclusion for the nationals.
“(Belen) is prepared. We knew that. When she was there (in training), she worked out already. She enjoyed her trip, but also was training here. It was not a problem. She’s ready to play, ready to help us."
Alas’ new additions have more than a few things in common. They’re both league champions, MVP winners, and are known for exhibiting top-notch performances not only in scoring, but also when it comes to floor defense.
And de Brito couldn’t be more thrilled to have that impeccable versatility on the floor.
“Both of them receive really good. Both of them are good spikers. Both of them also have good relationships with the guys," he said.
"That helps a lot so we have more options on the back, options in front, and also it’s good for our setters because you can make a lineup that you can receive in and make a serve-receive. That’s good."
More tricks up Alas’ sleeves
Changes have been aplenty for the nationals roughly a month or so prior to the Challenger Cup.
So when it comes to who his starting core will be this time around sans Laure and Nierva, de Brito guaranteed that there’s a few more surpises left in the Alas pipeline which he hopes to unleash against Vietnam.
“What happened is we don’t have Jen and Eya for this (tournament), but we have really, really good players. We’re gonna choose a starting six and if it’s doing good, if we don’t need to make any changes, we’re gonna stick with them," de Brito said.
"Already, we’re gonna start with a different lineup because we don’t have two guys here so it will be different," he added.
“It also will be a surprise for Vietnam. The Philippines has been a surprise always but now it’s different because we’re trying to keep the same lineup but it’s already different. I think they have to think about that.”
Alas Pilipinas aims to defy the odds against Vietnam and book its spot in the knockout semifinals against either Argentina or Czechia to move one step closer to the last coveted spot for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
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