Alas Pilipinas in action during the AVC Men’s Champions League against Osaka Blueton. –AVC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Alas Pilipinas men and women teams will be tested in their respective groups in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup next month.

The Alas women’s squad, which won bronze last year in the AVC Challenge Cup before this year’s rebrand, was drawn in Pool B with Indonesia, Mongolia, and New Zealand in the competition from June 7 to 14 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

READ: Alas Pilipinas set to welcome Van Sickle in MVP-filled pool

Pool A is composed of the host and defending champion Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Chinese-Taipei, and Hong Kong after the draw, participated in by Shaina Nitura and libero Vince Lorenzo, on Sunday at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

The Alas men’s team, which makes its historic debut in the FIVB Men’s World Championship in September, battles Qatar, Vietnam, Australia, and Kazakhstan in Pool B for the Nations Cup in Bahrain from June 17 to 24.

Bahrain headlined Pool A with Indonesia and Thailand, while South Korea, Vietnam, and New Zealand were grouped in Pool C.

The Alas girls’ team will also compete in the AVC Women’s Under-16 Championship from July 20 to 27 in Amman, Jordan.

READ: Alas Pilipinas men winless to end AVC Champions League stint

Alas Pilipinas Women.–PNVF PHOTO

The national youth team will face Japan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia in Pool B. Pool A has host Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong. Pool C has China, Qatar, South Korea, and Kazakhstan, while Pool D is made up of Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Australia, and India.

“It was a remarkable draw for the AVC’s competitions, and we’re incredibly happy to announce that volleyball is very much alive in Asia,” Suzara said. “We’re aiming for excellent quality of the competitions,” said AVC and PNVF president Tats Suzara, who also hosted the AVC Board of Administration Meeting.

Suzara was joined by immediate past president Rita Subowo of Indonesia, secretary-general Hugh Graham of Cook Islands, executive vice presidents Mohamed Latheef of Maldives, Yuan Lei of China, Heyzer Harnoso of Indonesia, Ali Al-Kuwari of Qatar, female board member Hila Asanuma of Palau, treasurer Marina Tsui of Hong Kong, and executive director Shanrit Wongprasert of Thailand, as well as PNVF vice president Ricky Palou and secretary-general Donaldo Caringal.