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Tag: Jennifer Nierva

  • Jennifer Nierva left out as Alas Pilipinas finalizes Taka Minowa’s first SEA V Cup roster 

    Jennifer Nierva left out as Alas Pilipinas finalizes Taka Minowa’s first SEA V Cup roster 

    One of the biggest surprises in Alas Pilipinas Women’s final roster for the opening leg of the 2026 SEA V Cup was the omission of veteran libero Jennifer Nierva.

     

    The multi-time UAAP Best Libero was named one of two reserve players after new head coach Taka Minowa finalized his 14-player lineup for the tournament in Hanoi, Vietnam, leaving Dawn Catindig and Justine Jazareno to take over libero duties in the team’s opening campaign under the Japanese mentor.

     

    Nierva traveled with the national team as part of the 16-player pool, but tournament regulations only allow 14 active players, forcing the coaching staff to make two difficult decisions before the competition begins.

     

    Also placed on the reserve list was National University outside hitter Celine Marsh, trimming the squad down to the official roster that will represent the Philippines in Leg 1.

     

    With Nierva unavailable for active duty, Catindig and Jazareno will anchor the team’s floor defense as Alas Pilipinas faces a demanding schedule against Southeast Asia’s top volleyball nations.

     

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    Leading Minowa’s first official roster are veteran setters Jia De Guzman of Creamline and Mars Alba of Akari, who will orchestrate the offense throughout the tournament.

     

    The outside hitter rotation remains one of the deepest in the competition, featuring Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, Eya Laure, and Vange Alinsug.

     

    Capital1 standout Erika Santos is set to make her long-awaited national team debut after earning one of the opposite hitter spots alongside Alyssa Solomon.

     

    The middle blocker unit is composed of Niña Ytang, Thea Gagate, Dell Palomata, and Fifi Sharma, giving the Philippines a versatile frontline capable of matching up against the region’s strongest attacks.

     

    Despite missing the final active lineup, Nierva remains part of the delegation as a reserve and could still be activated in the succeeding leg should roster changes be made.

     

    Alas Pilipinas opens the Taka Minowa era against host Vietnam on Friday before facing defending SEA V Cup champion Thailand on Saturday and Indonesia on Sunday in the opening leg of the regional tournament.

     

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  • Alas Pilipinas dealt major blow as Vanie Gandler, Jennifer Nierva, Shaina Nitura miss Asian Games 

    Alas Pilipinas dealt major blow as Vanie Gandler, Jennifer Nierva, Shaina Nitura miss Asian Games 

    Alas Pilipinas Women will head into the 20th Asian Games with a different look than initially envisioned after injuries sidelined three important pieces of the national team’s plans.

     

    Instead of spending the coming months building chemistry with its full roster, the coaching staff will now have to navigate preparations without Vanessa “Vanie” Gandler, Jennifer Nierva, and Shaina Nitura, each unavailable for different injury-related reasons.

     

    The latest setback involves reigning 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player Vanie Gandler, who opted to step away from national team duties after an exhausting run of competition that culminated in the biggest individual honor of her career.

     

    Rather than risk aggravating lingering physical issues, the former Cignal star chose recovery, prioritizing long-term health before returning to competition.

     

    Alas Pilipinas will also miss one of its most dependable defensive anchors.

     

    Veteran libero Jennifer Nierva has likewise been ruled out as she continues to recover from an injury, depriving the national team of one of its most experienced backcourt leaders entering continental competition.

     

    The biggest blow, however, may be the loss of one of Philippine volleyball’s fastest-rising stars.

    The Philippine Olympic Committee earlier confirmed that Shaina Nitura will miss the Asian Games after undergoing surgery to address an ankle injury.

     

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    Initially named to the national team pool, the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player instead begins a rehabilitation process expected to last around three months, delaying what could have been her biggest international tournament to date.

     

    Nitura’s absence removes one of the country’s most explosive young scorers from the lineup and leaves Alas Pilipinas without a player many viewed as a cornerstone of its future.

     

    The trio’s unavailability significantly alters the complexion of the squad as preparations continue under head coach Taka Minowa, who now faces the challenge of assembling a competitive lineup despite losing three players expected to play major roles.

     

    While the setbacks are substantial, Alas Pilipinas will press on with the remaining members of its training pool as the national team continues preparations for the Asian Games, scheduled from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

     

    With less than three months before the continental showcase, the focus now shifts from assembling the strongest possible roster to ensuring the available group is ready to compete on Asia’s biggest stage.

     

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