MORE big blows have been dealt to Alas Pilipinas less than a week before the 2024 FIVB Women's Volleyball Challenger Cup on home soil.
READ: De Brito bares Tots Carlos 'not there' with Alas Pilipinas
Incoming national team member Alyssa Solomon and the ace duo of Eya Laure and Jen Nierva are all at risk of missing Alas' second straight home tournament.
Alas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito confirmed the development to SPIN.ph on Sunday evening, citing various reasons for their expected absences.
In the case of the National University hotshot and two-time UAAP best opposite spiker, her recent string of minor injuries made her absence an 'expected' one for the Brazilian mentor.
"Solomon (is unavailable for the team), but expected. We knew she needed (more time for) recovery from small injuries," said de Brito.
Meanwhile, Nierva and Laure have still yet to join Alas training four days before the Challenger Cup as roughly three weeks remain before their Premier Volleyball League (PVL) mother team Chery Tiggo Crossovers begin their Reinforced Conference campaign.
"Until now, we don't have Jen (Nierva) and Eya (Laure) from Chery and we can't bring new players, so we need to find out (and work things out) inside our group," said the freshly-extended shot-caller.
Another big name out
Prior to Solomon and Laure, another ace spiker in Creamline's Tots Carlos has been ruled out of the Challenger Cup squad.
Although no specific reason was given for the three-time PVL MVP's absence, it can be remembered that she dealt with a knee injury shortly after their title-clinching Game Two win in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference finals last May.
As it stands, Alas Pilipinas is left with 14 confirmed players from its 18-woman pool for the Challenger Cup with 12 holdovers from the bronze-winning side in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup and only two new entrants in NU's Bella Belen and Carlos' fellow Cool Smasher Jema Galanza.
The Philippines will host the four-day tournament starting July 4 at the historic Ninoy Aquino Stadium but will play its Challenger Cup opener and concurrent knockout quarterfinal match against Vietnam on July 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Completing the eight-team field vying for one last spot in the 2025 edition of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) are Argentina, Czech Republic, Belgium, Sweden, Kenya and Puerto Rico.
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