Angel Canino scores 14 points, wins Best Opposite Spiker award in AVC Challenge Cup

Angel Canino scored 14 points and won the Best Opposite Spiker award to lead Alas Pilipinas to a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 on Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Despite playing as an opposite spiker, a position outside her comfort zone as a natural open hitter, Canino emerged as Alas Pilipinas' leading scorer with 55 points and helped secure the country's first AVC podium finish in 63 years.

Canino expressed pride in her team's achievement but was surprised to win the award given the tough competition at the tournament and the fact that she usually plays as an outside hitter.

The UAAP Season 85 Rookie MVP highlighted her scoring tear with a tournament-high 22 points in Alas' decisive victory against Australia, emphasizing her readiness to adjust to any task assigned by head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.

Canino credited her teammates and the coaching staff for her success and emphasized that she is comfortable playing as an opposite spiker but remains adaptable for future assignments.