If last year’s bronze was a sign of promise, this year’s silver is undeniable proof that the Alas Pilipinas program is heading in the right direction.
For team captain Jia De Guzman, their historic silver-medal finish in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup is more than just hardware — it’s a reflection of how far the national team has come and how Philippine volleyball is steadily climbing the ranks on the continental stage.
“It means everything, honestly,” said De Guzman. “Because it’s hard to see rin ‘yung growth ng sport and growth ng team namin without the result. I mean, grabe ‘yung silver — as in, we didn’t expect to get a silver coming into this tournament. We just knew that we had to give our best.”
Alas Pilipinas absorbed a tough straight-sets loss to host Vietnam, 15-25, 17-25, 14-25, last Saturday night, but still walked away with a milestone silver medal — the Philippines’ best-ever finish in the AVC’s 64-year history — at the Doang Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi.
It also marked the country’s highest placing in any continental tournament and the first silver in international volleyball since the 1997 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Entering the competition ranked 56th in the world, the Philippines surged ten spots to 46th by the end of the Nations Cup — now officially the eighth-best team in Asia.
Alas’ remarkable campaign began with a 4-1 record in Pool B, highlighted by a stunning upset over Kazakhstan to close the preliminary round and secure the top seed heading into the semifinals — their second straight appearance in the final four.
The Filipinas then overcame a spirited challenge from Chinese Taipei, clawing their way into a historic finals appearance and their first ever at the Asian level.
“Kasi last year, bronze ‘yung nakuha namin, ngayon biglang silver. Wala, mas nakaka-inspire lang talaga to go back to training, keep working together as a team, and to keep going for this long-term program,” said the 30-year-old playmaker.
A mainstay in the volleyball scene and an eight-time PVL Best Setter, De Guzman has long advocated for a consistent and sustainable national team program. She expressed pride in the silver-medal finish, seeing it as tangible progress born from years of hard work and commitment.
De Guzman added that the silver win shows the long-term program is beginning to bear fruit — and it only motivates them to keep pushing forward.
“Kasi slowly but surely, umaangat tayo as a country sa volleyball, so I’m really proud of the team.”
But for De Guzman, this silver isn’t the final destination — it’s just the beginning of momentum.
The two-time Nations Cup Best Setter believes this success is merely a preview of what’s possible for Alas Pilipinas, especially with a deep pool of talented players ready to step in when their time comes.
“Kahit nung hindi pa kami nagti-training together, everyone was just really preparing for this national team period. So nakita naman ngayon na we’re just really trying to find our rhythm together as a team,” De Guzman shared.
“And it’s only the first tournament — marami pa po kaming tao sa pool na gustong magpakitang gilas. So, see you guys in the next tournament!”
