The presence of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon provides a substantial boost for Jia de Guzman and the entire Alas Pilipinas.
No one recognizes the impact of an Alas Pilipinas member better than Jia de Guzman.
As the captain and orchestrator of the national team, de Guzman would be the first to affirm the immense value that collegiate standouts Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon bring to the table.
Despite their relative inexperience in the seniors squad, the National University stalwarts have already proven their mettle on the international stage, seeing action in regional and continental tilts in the past.
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“Alyssa and Bella are very experienced players kahit coming out of college sila,” de Guzman told One Sports.
Both Belen and Solomon have earned praise in their decision to skip the inaugural 2024 PVL Draft scheduled on July 8, a surprising choice for many.
Still, despite their decision to stay in the collegiate circuit and pursue another UAAP title with the NU Lady Bulldogs, both rising stars remain dedicated in representing the country.
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As recent additions to Alas Pilipinas, de Guzman firmly believes that Belen and Solomon possess the intelligence and foundation to contribute in the upcoming 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup, scheduled from July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“We can see na grabe talaga sila mag isip. It’s not just that they’re strong. They also have a very high IQ when it comes to volleyball,” the decorated playmaker said.
“They also got the chance to train in Japan many times with NU, so marami silang learnings na dinadala rin nila sa loob ng court,” she continued.
“So, it’s great for us to have them.”