Jia de Guzman wishes for a longer build-up for future international tournaments after Alas Pilipinas Women made history despite their lack of preparation on Wednesday night in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women.
The Philippines defeated a taller Australia side in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-7, to clinch the country’s first-ever podium finish in any AVC-sanctioned tournament since joining the federation in 1961.
De Guzman believes that if this batch of Alas Pilipinas can excel and make significant progress despite their short time together, the sky’s the limit for the squad with ample preparation.
“It’s been years, decades since the last medal so sobrang thankful lang talaga kami,” said the eight-time PVL Best Setter.
“We’re really hopeful, we’re looking forward to more preparations for the upcoming tournaments that we will play in kasi ganito yung napakita namin ngayon. We just hope na now we just keep improving and move up,” she added.
The Philippines’ historic run included a 4-0 sweep of the group stage, where they beat Australia, India, Iran, and Chinese Taipei en route to the semifinals.
That marked the first time any Philippine team reached the Final Four of a continental tournament.
Unfortunately, Alas Pilipinas fell to a towering Kazakhstan side in the semifinals before defeating the Volleyroos again in the bronze medal match.
The six-time PVL champion with Creamline said that the team headed into the game without any expectations, which made the victory much sweeter.
“It feels surreal. I think it’s going to take a while for it to sink in kasi we went into this game not expecting anything. We went and we’re not expecting anything and now we’re going home with a medal,” said de Guzman.
De Guzman expressed gratitude to the squad, composed of PVL standouts and UAAP aces, for absorbing every ounce of experience they could from this tournament.
The former Ateneo star said that this was a huge learning opportunity for the national team, which is finally gaining much-needed momentum following multiple heartbreaks over the past years.
“Actually, sobrang wala akong masabi.
“Kasi sobrang ilang days lang talaga yung preparation namin as a team na buo. Like, mabibilang sa isang kamay, marami na yung tatlong araw,” said De Guzman.
“Pero we just want to (learn from) this tournament, sabi namin kung ano yung ma-improve natin, bawat game, kung anong mapupulot nating lessons bawat game, we take it. All the errors, iwan na lang natin kasi good learning opportunity talaga ‘tong tournament na ‘to,” she added.
De Guzman said it has been a pleasure playing with every member of the current Alas Pilipinas squad, and she is very thankful for the chance to lead this historic team.
“It’s playing with everyone in the team. As in. I’m just really blessed to be able to play with such talented girls from different generations, a very talented coaching staff… Sobrang thankful ko lang talaga na I was given the opportunity to be the leader of this team,” she expressed.
“It was such a great team.”
