Alas braces for showdown vs Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines —  The race for that one precious slot to the Women’s Volleyball Nations League starts as eight countries, including host Alas Pilipinas, clash in the FIVB Challenger Cup, which unfolds today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Puerto Rico and Kenya open hostilities at 3 p.m. while Sweden, the recently crowned European Golden League champion, faces Belgium, a European league bronze winner, at 5 p.m.

The Swedes are expected to parade European Golden League reigning MVP Isabelle Haak while the Belgians will unleash their best weapons in power-hitting Britt Herbots and Silke Van Avermet.

And it will be Alas Pilipinas’ turn tomorrow as they battle fancied regional rival Vietnam, which ruled the AVC Challenge Cup last month when the former settled for a breakthrough bronze.

Preceding the Philippines-Vietnam 5 p.m. showdown is the duel between European Golden League silver medalist Czech Republic, which will be spearheaded by Michaela Mlejnkova, and Argentina, the 2019 Challenger Cup third placer, at 3 p.m.