IT might now just be a matter of weeks before Fil-American trio Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Tia Andaya get to suit up for Alas Pilipinas Women, possibly along with Fil-Aussie winger Shevana Laput.
All three will be in consideration for the Philippines’ forthcoming campaign in the 2025 VTV Cup from June 28 to July 5 in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam.
READ: PNVF finalizing player-lending system with PVL ahead of SEA Games
The catch, however, is that their federation change requests are yet to be finalized.
This led to their instant non-inclusion in Alas’ silver-winning squad in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup, also in Vietnam.
The same principle applies for Laput, who was also called up to the Alas Women pool despite still being affiliated with Volleyball Australia.
But how can they now be eligible for an international tournament if they are still tied to a different volleyball federation?
‘No impediment’ for Alas’ Fil-Am trio
The reason for their sudden eligibility in the VTV Cup is simple.
Unlike the Nations Cup, the VTV Cup is an annual invitational tournament hosted by the Volleyball Federation of Vietnam.
It is not a competitive AVC or FIVB-sanctioned event.
As such, teams are not bound by the citizenship technicalities Van Sickle, Phillips, Andaya and Laput are subjected to in competitions like the recently-concluded Nations Cup.
“Probably, we’re gonna have the Fil-Ams there to play. Probably. There’s no impediment. There’s nothing that can block them to join,” said Alas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
“We’re gonna have to finalize the lineup in two days. We’ll release for all of you, guys.”
Coming off a historic Nations Cup silver, the nationals aim to eclipse Choco Mucho’s 2023 bronze and avoid an encore of National U’s dead-last eighth-place finish last year.
Among their first opponents in Pool A this year are Nations Cup tormentor Vietnam, Australia and China’s Sichuan Wuliangchun.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
