CANDON CITY, ILOCOS SUR — With team captain Marck Espejo sidelined, young gun Jade Disquitado stepped up to lead the charge for Alas Pilipinas Men in the opening leg of the 2025 SEA V.League at the Candon City Arena here.
Espejo, the heart and soul of the national squad, was ruled out for the entire tournament due to an ankle injury he sustained during the 2025 AVC Nations Cup.
Fully aware of the massive void left by the five-time UAAP MVP, Disquitado embraced the responsibility of carrying the offensive load.
“Lagi naman akong ready kung sakaling bunutin ako nila coach sa bench. Ginagawa ko lang ‘yung best ko tuwing pinapasok ako sa loob ng court,” said Disquitado.
But Disquitado wasn’t alone in the mission. He found strength in familiarity, drawing confidence from his long-time teammates at National University — a group that built a dynasty with five straight UAAP titles.
Playing alongside Owa Retamar, Peng Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, and Buds Buddin, Disquitado delivered a career-best performance right when the Philippines needed it most.
“Sobrang laking factor ‘non kasi matagal na kami nagsama-sama nila Kuya Owa, so ‘yung communication namin, hindi na kami nahihirapan,” shared the UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year, who erupted for a game-high 24 points, including a blistering 15-point third set.
“Nagtinginan lang kami, alam na namin ang gagawin. So hindi kami nahihirapan sa communication namin,” he added.
That seamless chemistry helped Disquitado rise to the occasion in Espejo’s absence, rallying Alas Pilipinas Men toward their shared goal — to win it all and dedicate the campaign to their injured skipper.
A gold medal in the SEA V.League would mark a historic breakthrough for the Philippines, a redemption arc following a silver finish in the 2019 SEA Games and back-to-back bronze medals in the two legs of the 2024 edition.
“Dahil wala si Kuya Marck, mas lalo naming ginagalingan para hindi nila ma-feel na wala si Kuya Marck, na kaya naming lumaban kahit wala si Kuya Marck,” said the 5-foot-11 spiker, determined to prove that the team can thrive despite adversity.
With the gold medal within reach, Disquitado, one of the youngest players on the team, wants to send a clear message: hard work is non-negotiable.
The 21-year-old vowed that the Nationals will leave everything on the court in pursuit of a rare international title — and the scenarios are within reach. A five-set win by Thailand over winless Cambodia, followed by a straight-sets sweep by the Philippines over Indonesia, would catapult the Nationals to the top of the standings.
“Gagawin namin ‘yung best namin para maka-straight set kami, para makuha namin ‘yung gold. Suportahan niyo kami bukas. Tinatake ko lahat ng ito as motivation, para sa’kin din naman ‘yon para umangat din ‘yung laro ko,” he concluded.
#WATCH: Alas Pilipinas’ Jade Disquitado steps up and finds inspiration in the absence of team captain Marck Espejo! 🇵🇭 🏐
🎥 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#SEAVLeague pic.twitter.com/boJV3uJMpP
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 12, 2025
