Despite their short preparation for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup, Jia de Guzman and the rest of Alas Pilipinas fought their way past tough competition to bring home the bronze medal.
The long wait is over for the Philippine women's national team after Alas Pilipinas snatched the country's first medal in an AVC-sanctioned tournament since joining the confederation in 1961.
The Philippines continued its mastery over Australia, winning in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-7, to secure the bronze medal in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
At the forefront of the Filipinas’ success in the entire tournament has been team captain and star setter Jia de Guzman, who could not believe the historic feat they just achieved.
“It feels so surreal kasi actually, I think it’s going to take a while for it to sink in kasi we went in this game not expecting anything, we went into this tournament not expecting anything, and now we’re going home with a medal,” de Guzman told reporters.
“It’s been decades since the last medal, and sobrang thankful lang kami,” she added.
Alas, Pilipinas came into the tournament with just two weeks of preparation, having to work extra just to build their chemistry as a team.
And while all eyes were on the team throughout their impressive run, the Filipinas shined under the new spotlight and showed that they could indeed compete with some of the top teams on the continent.
“Sobrang wala ako masabi kasi ilang days lang namin preparation namin as a team na buo,” said de Guzman.
“Mabibilang sa isang kamay, pero we just went into this tournament sabi namin kahit ano mangyari basta kung ano ma-improve natin, bawa't game kung ano mapupulot we take it,” she added.
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Given Alas' performance, de Guzman believes that the Philippines’ potential in international women’s volleyball is limitless.
“We’re really looking forward to more preparations for the upcoming tournaments that we will play because if ganito ‘yung napakita namin ngayon, we just hope na we just keep improving and move up,” said de Guzman.
Up next for Alas Pilipinas will be the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup set from July 4-7 in Manila.