Alas Pilipinas in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup. Photo from Asian Volleyball Confederation.MANILA — Alas Pilipinas recently made history in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup in Hanoi, clinching a silver finish after going up against some of the best hitters on the international stage.
The Nationals impressed in the pool games by winning four of its five assignments — one of which even came as a win over Asian powerhouse Kazakhstan — and they also overcame Chinese Taipei to reach the tournament’s championship round for the first time in over six decades.
And while Alas fell short against Vietnam in their bid to stun the hosts and bring home the gold, team captain Jia De Guzman is very much proud not only of their Finals appearance, but also of the development which the squad displayed during their campaign.
“We’re very happy with the result, but if you ask me, I'm more happy with the growth that the team showed,” said De Guzman, who was hailed as the tournament's Best Setter, on Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila.
READ: PH clinches breakthrough 2nd place finish in AVC Women's Nations Cup
For the former Ateneo de Manila University ace, aside from the talent that the team was able to utilize, what needs to be celebrated is the character that they showed against some of Asia’s toughest.
“Marami nang ibang nate-test sa amin. It’s not just our skills, but also our character, how we respond to certain experiences,” she pointed out. “The girls and the coaches now understand how quickly volleyball evolves.”
“We also try our best to show process every match whether it’s a win or a loss. It gives us a better understanding of the sport. Our girls, they don’t do things just because, they also want to understand why.”
“Internationally, grabe yung pressure and mental challenge. It’s already hard for seasoned athletes, what more for new ones? Pero slowly, nakikita ko na yung growth. Yung overall development ng athlete, yun yung fulfilling for us to see,” De Guzman added.
New Heights = New Challenges
Given the growth and success that the National team earned in Vietnam, De Guzman anticipates tougher challenges ahead of them.
“There’s a lot of pressure to produce more, lalo na’t we’re reaching heights that we haven't reached before,” she said. “Mas pataas kami ng pataas, pero mas dadami pa yung hirap. This is just our second year together, so mas marami pa kaming pagdadaanan.”
Alas Pilipinas team captain Jia Morado in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup. Photo from Asian Volleyball Confederation.Given this, the Creamline Cool Smashers playmaker wants to put more focus on maintaining their success through long-term vision, not a program that takes a step forward, and then two steps back.
“We should stick to our program, if we do, we can reach [the level of Thailand and Indonesia],” she said. “The Philippines is growing, and we need to stick to that fact.”
As of present, the Premier Volleyball League and the Philippine National Volleyball Federation are still in talks regarding players’ availability for Alas if and when National team duties and the PVL calendar coincide.
“We’re becoming a threat, we see the growth of the team and the country’s program, so we need to stick to that,” she said.
And much like how De Guzman delivered the goods for the likes of Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Shaina Nitura in Hanoi, she also shared her sentiments on how Alas can sustain its rise.
The seasoned playmaker hopes that their present system wherein the majority of the members of the 25-woman pool are committed will be maintained.
After the Nations Cup, Alas will now look to extend their upward trend when they see action in the VTV Cup, the SEA V.League, and the Southeast Asian Games later this year.
“Other teams are also leveling up, everyone is very focused on their preparations, so we’re trying to keep the team grounded and humble,” De Guzman pointed out. “These are what we need as a team para mas lumakas pa.”
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