CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Alas Pilipinas Men’s Jude Garcia is hoping to see better results for the national team come Leg 2 of the 2026 SEA V Cup.
The Nationals finished fifth place after sweeping Myanmar, 25-21, 28-26, 25-22, in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and Candon City Mayor Eric Singson.
READ: Alas Men sweep Myanmar in fifth-place match, conclude SEA V Cup Leg 1 with win
Still, it was a result not worth settling for, and the five-time Spikers’ Turf MVP knows it.
“Sobrang laking motivation, ‘di lang para sa ‘kin, para sa teammates ko din kasi lahat naman kami trinabaho namin ‘yung game na ‘to, trinabaho namin past games namin talaga,” said Garcia after their win over Myanmar on Saturday.
“Kita naman do’n ‘yung effort ng bawat isa, so dadalhin namin ‘tong experience na ‘to sa leg 2. Sana mas magiging maganda ‘yung resulta ng Leg 2 namin,” he added.
The SEA V Cup Leg 2 is scheduled for July 22 to 26 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Garcia, who switched to the opposite spiker position in their Myanmar match, said that he just did his best for the flag.
READ: Ateneo’s Alejos, Salarzon relish Alas Pilipinas stint at SEA V Cup
“Sobrang komportable na ako kasi siyempre, alam naman natin, sobrang — ang gagawin mo lang sa opposite (ay) didepensa ka, aatake ka, and ba-block ka lang. So, siyempre sa mindset ko lang talaga pupunta sa ‘kin ‘yung bola, gagawin ko lang ‘yung pinaka-best ko and ayun.”
Garcia vowed that whenever there is an Alas call-up, he would always say yes, as long as it doesn’t fall under the club season.
“As long as kino-call ako sa national team po, magko-commit pa rin ako sa national team kasi sobrang laking bagay, opportunity na mapabilang sa Alas, sa national team,” said the Umingan, Pangasinan native.
“So kumbaga, ‘di ko na iniisip ‘yung future kasi talagang kung ipupunta kami dito, talagang magko-commit ako, magko-commit, basta walang club season.”