Niña Ytang chose to focus on the experience rather than the result after completing her first campaign with Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Women’s Nations Cup.
Despite the Philippine women’s volleyball team’s disappointing finish in the continental tournament, the young middle blocker expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country and play alongside some of the sport’s most accomplished veterans.
Alas Pilipinas ended its campaign with a 21-25, 12-25, 21-25 loss to Iran in the battle for seventh place on Sunday at the Candon City Arena, ultimately finishing eighth out of 12 participating nations.
The result marked the national team’s lowest placement in the tournament in three years, a significant drop from its recent podium finishes.
The Philippines captured the bronze medal in 2024 and advanced to the championship match in 2025 after placing seventh in 2023.
This year, Alas Pilipinas fielded a different-looking roster after several members of the previous core were unavailable.
OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.
MOWM ENERGY
Nina Ytang jumpstarts the Alas Pilipinas offense, delivering quick attacks against Chinese Taipei in the opening set of their Pool A clash in the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup.#AVCWomensCup #AlasPilipinas pic.twitter.com/YYlaLSik0Z
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 11, 2026
Veterans Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ces Molina, and Ara Galang led the squad, but the Filipinas struggled to sustain momentum throughout the competition.
The Philippines finished Pool A with a 2-3 record, suffering losses to eventual finalists South Korea and Chinese Taipei, as well as a five-set defeat against Australia.
Still, Ytang viewed the tournament as a valuable learning experience.
“I’m just very, very grateful for the experience that I am experiencing right now, with my ates, of course I will cherish these memories with them,” said Ytang.
The University of the Philippines standout was among the bright spots for Alas Pilipinas, stepping into a starting middle blocker role and holding her own against some of Asia’s top teams.
Ytang said representing the national team alongside players she had long admired made the experience especially meaningful.
“It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me so it’s been my dream to play with them, so I’m very, very grateful for all the experiences that I have right now,” she said.
While the campaign ended in disappointment, Ytang’s emergence provided a positive takeaway for a Philippine squad looking to regroup after falling short of its recent international standards.
For the young middle blocker, the tournament served as both a learning opportunity and the realization of a longtime dream—one she hopes will be the first of many appearances in national team colors.
Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!
Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans.
Leave a Reply