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Alas Pilipinas during the AVC Challenge Cup for Women, May 23, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA -- The Philippine women's national volleyball team looks to continue to close the gap on their regional rivals as they gear up for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand later this year.
Alas Pilipinas is coming off a breakthrough campaign in the AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup in Hanoi last Saturday, where they claimed a historic silver medal.
The Philippines missed out on the gold after a three-set loss to Vietnam in the final, and head coach Jorge de Brito has no doubt that they'll see the Vietnamese squad down the road again, along with Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand and Indonesia.
"They keep the international standard very high," said De Brito in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
READ: PH clinches breakthrough 2nd place finish in AVC Women's Nations Cup
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De Brito was joined by Alas women's team captain Jia De Guzman, Dell Palomata, and Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon "Tats" Suzara in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country's 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
Suzara said that the SEA Games is the "main target" for the Alas Women this year, even though the competition is not on the FIVB calendar.
"We're working hard, and everyday we keep on improving from any learning experience in every competition," he said.
It's been more than three decades since the women's volleyball team last won the gold in the biennial meet in Singapore, while its last podium finish came in the 2005 edition held here in Manila.
De Guzman, who was named Best Setter in the AVC Women's Nations Cup, believes that the Philippines can reach the level of Vietnam and Thailand if they continue to follow the path they are on.
"We just have to stick to the program, because if we do, I have no doubt that one day, we will reach that level also. Hindi naman porke nauuna sila, hindi na sila mahahabol," said De Guzman.
"They recognized that the Philippines is growing, and we have to take advantage of that fact, kasi the fact that they are saying that, it means we're starting to become a threat," she added.
"So Thailand, Vietnam, and even Indonesia, maaabot din natin yun as long as we stick to what we are doing now."
READ: Aside from historic silver finish, Jia De Guzman hails Alas’ growth and development
De Brito is open to adding some players to the current Alas women's roster, but stressed the need to keep together the current core of 25 players that won the silver medal in Hanoi.
"We have a core already of 25 players. And these 25 are the guys we're going to keep," he said.
The Alas women's team will still compete in the 2025 VTV Cup later this month in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian V. League in August in Vietnam and Thailand, respectively, prior to going to the SEA Games.
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