Alas Pilipinas’ AVC silver ‘means everything’ for PH volleyball

Alas Pilipinas all the way through the AVC Women’s Nations Cup ultimate in opposition to Vietnam.–AVC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas’ first-ever Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) championship recreation look was once a testomony to the expansion of the Philippine girls’s volleyball program.

Three-peat Women’s Nations Cup champion Vietnam could have stamped its elegance, dominating Alas within the gold medal fit,  15-25, 17-25, 14-25, on Saturday night time in entrance of a roaring Hanoi crowd at Dong Anh Arena.

READ: Alas Pilipinas gamers bag awards in AVC Nations Cup

It was once nonetheless a silver medal that shone like gold for crew captain Jia De Guzman because the podium end marked this system’s first runner-up end because the 1997 Southeast Asian Games, proving that the long run is brilliant for the Alas program, which was once simplest established final yr.

“It means everything, honestly, because it’s hard to see the growth of the sport and our team without the result. We didn’t expect to get a silver coming into this tournament. We just knew that we had to give our best because last year we got the bronze,” mentioned De Guzman, who has been the captain of Alas since final yr’s ancient bronze medal end.

Alas Pilipinas’ Jia de Guzman all the way through the AVC Nations Cup ultimate in opposition to Vietnam. –AVC PHOTO

De Guzman, who received the match’s Best Setter for the second one instantly yr, emphasised that this silver will encourage them to proceed bringing extra honor to Philippine volleyball on this busy 2025 calendar, which contains the Thailand SEA Games in December, the place they’re going to attempt to finish a 20-year medal drought.

“This silver inspires us to go back to training and keep working together as a team and to keep going for this long-term program because, slowly but surely, we’re rising as a country in volleyball so I’m really proud of the team,” mentioned the 30-year-old playmaker in Filipino.

Alas trainer Jorge Souza De Brito mentioned the squad’s back-to-back podium finishes at the Asian degree imply this system is not off course.

READ: Alas Pilipinas takes house silver as Vietnam regulations AVC Nations Cup

“We are happy with the second place. We’re on the way. It’s a process. I’m happy and proud of all the players and coaching staff, all the support also that you have from the federation. It’s really amazing.Really really good players that you have to develop them here and the group will become stronger and stronger year after year. I’m sure of it,” De Brito mentioned.

“They are amazing. I hope you can keep all of them because they trust the process, they are really strong and they all keep the focus even if they are not performing good, they are always trying. And this part is important because it’s not only volleyball, you play for the flag and you show your character inside. It’s something you have to grow and build for the team.”

Angel Canino received the Best Outside Spiker, a yr after rising because the match’s most sensible reverse hitter, whilst Dell Palomata earned her first out of the country nod with the Best Middle Blocker plum.

De Guzman couldn’t be prouder of her teammates, who all performed necessary roles within the finals run.

“Sobrang deserved talaga ni Angel, ni Dell, actually kung pwede nga lahat mabigyan ng award talaga as in everyone works so hard in training kahit nung hindi pa kami nagttraining together everyone was just really preparing for this national team period so nakita naman ngayon na we’re just really trying to find our rhythm together as a team,” she mentioned.

“It’s only the first tournament marami pa po kaming tao sa pool na gustong magpakitang gilas so see you guys in the next tournament.”