MANILA — Alas Pilipinas stars Jia de Guzman and Angel Canino, on top of their bronze medals, were awarded Best Setter and Best Opposite Spiker citations in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.

De Guzman, team leader of Alas, was at the steering wheel to orchestrate the offense of the national team to put a halt to a 63-year medal drought in an AVC-sanctioned competition.

READ: Alas Pilipinas conquers Australia to cop bronze in AVC Challenge Cup

The Denso Airybees star tosser said the plum was just a "big bonus" as she gave credit to her previous coaches and former teammates she played with.

"This one [Best Setter Award], this one is a big bonus and I owe it also to lahat ng na-experience ko every since I started playing, lahat po ng coaches and players na na-encounter ko. They made me who I am today. So, maraming salamat po," the Alas captain said.

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Canino was the team's top scorer in the tourney, helping the Alas offense set up by De Guzman as they swept Pool A action and moved forward to the playoffs.

The De La Salle University standout also had to be listed as an opposite hitter as the outside position was already crowded with the likes of Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina, and Faith Nisperos.

The 20-year-old hitter said she didn't expect any individual award due to tough competition.

"Nagulat ako na naging Best Opposite Spiker ako kasi knowing this AVC marami akong kalaban sa spot ko so I didn't expect anything, and hindi ko naman talaga hinabol talaga 'yung itong award na 'to," Canino said.

"It's more on making a history talaga for the Philippines and it's more of my teammates din talaga so credits talaga sa teammates ko, sa management, sa mga coaches kasi hindi ko magagawa lahat ng 'to kung hindi dahil sa kanila. Sobrang na-appreciate ko [sila]. Itong award na 'to, hindi 'to akin. Para po 'to sa kanila [teammates ko]."

READ: Kapitana Jia still proud of Alas Pilipinas despite semis loss

Meanwhile, Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy, while her compatriot Le Thanh Thuy and Kazakhstan's Yakimova Yuliya were given Best Middle Blocker recognitions.

Australia's Caitlin Tipping and Kazakh Sana Anarkulova were the tournament's Best Outside Spikers, while for the defensive side, Nguyen Khanh Dang of Vietnam was named Best Libero.

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