Fifi Sharma is looking to make the most out of her time in Alas Pilipinas with setter and team captain Jia de Guzman.
Ask any player in Alas Pilipinas about who they’re most excited playing with and almost all of them would say Jia de Guzman.
The 29-year-old setter, fresh off her first season in Japan, has been tasked with leading the young and talented Alas Pilipinas squad in the upcoming 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
@onesportsphl THE SECRET WEAPON IS NOT SO SECRET 🤫 With talented volleybelles coming together, find out who’s the real ‘alas’ of Alas Pilipinas for the 2024 AVC Women’s Challenge Cup. #AVCChallengeCup
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Playing alongside de Guzman will be a first for many in the national team, including middle blocker Fifi Sharma of the Akari Chargers.
This is Sharma's first time representing the Philippines in an international tournament, and she is already thankful for the opportunity.
"It's just so surreal because I mean to be given a chance to play at this level of competition is every volleyball player's dream. I'm just super proud of myself and at the same time, I'm very thankful for the opportunity that was given to me and the trust that was also given to me,” Sharma told reporters after Alas Pilipinas’ team presentation on Monday, May 20.
But more than playing for the newly-named Alas Pilipinas, the 5-foot-11 middle blocker is also raring to compete alongside de Guzman.
“I feel like a pre-requisite for a good team is a good setter lalo na for middle blockers kasi kailangan sa amin very precise sets, so having a setter as talented as ate Jia is like just a gift for us,” said Sharma.
“Parang nawawala 'yung stress sa amin na all we have to do is just to go and wherever kami pumasok mabibigay niya, mahahatid niya 'yung bola. It's a different level of reassurance for us middle blockers so I'm so excited,” she added.
[ALSO READ: "Kinikilig din ako!" | Jia De Guzman shares excitement in teaming up with La Salle trio in Alas PIlipinas]
The 63rd-ranked Philippines will compete against higher-ranked nations in the AVC Challenge Cup. Despite their short preparations for the tournament, Sharma hopes to make the most of it.
“We all know that the Philippine national team needs a little more compared to the other countries na medyo pulido na programa nila. Siguro this is good step towards that and I’m so honored to be part of that process,” said Sharma.
[ALSO READ: Jen Nierva lauds "willingness" of every Alas Pilipinas player to train, compete for AVC Challenge Cup]
Alas Pilipinas will begin their campaign on Thursday, May 23, at 7:00 p.m., against the 59th-ranked Australia at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.