After a historic campaign in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup, the Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team will shift its focus on the Southeast Asian Games later this year.
For the first time in 64 years, Alas captured its highest medal finish in an AVC-sanctioned tourney after bagging the silver in Vietnam.
The Nationals, currently No. 46 in the FIVB ranking, fell short against defending champion and host Vietnam in the gold medal match with the latter completing a three-peat last week.
Although still in cloud nine, Alas women coach Jorge Souza de Brito, skipper Jia De Guzman and middle blocker Dell Palomata tempered expectations for their next tourneys.
“Of course, we’re fighting but it’s gonna be hard because all of those top teams (Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia),” Souza de Brito said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
“We’re gonna play with pride and expectations are getting high because we’re getting the results now but it’s gonna be hard. We will prepare for that moment,” he added.
It’s been two decades or in 2005 since the Philippines bagged a medal in the SEA Games—a bronze under Ramil De Jesus.
Thailand has been dominating the regional meet since 1995.
De Guzman, a two-time Nations Cup best setter, also agreed with her coach’s sentiments.
“Yes, same with what coach said, of course there’s a lot of pressure to produce more results lalo na ngayon na we’re reaching heights that we haven’t reached before. Well at the same time, the other teams are also preparing well for this competition. For example, Thailand. They’re exposed to VNL teams right now,” De Guzman said. “Vietnam is also leveling up and Indonesia, everyone, is doing their training camps now abroad.
“So, everyone is very focused now on doing their own preparations. Same with us. We’re trying to keep the team very grounded and humble despite the success.
“If we look at it that high kaagad, there’s so much, the pressure that comes with it and some people react this differently pressure so for us, iyong No. 1 talaga is to trust the process, trust coach’s system, trust each other, and just keep showing up each day to be better. But, of course, yes we will fight for that podium finish as we do in every tournament naman talaga.”
