The Alas Pilipinas women’s team is aiming for at least a podium finish, a feat they last achieved at the 2005 Manila SEA Games.

For Bella Belen, representing the Philippines at the SEA Games for the first time brings nostalgia to her, especially after competing at the Palarong Pambansa since elementary.

“Nag-Palarong Pambansa po ako noong elementary and then noong high school, parang sobrang nostalgic siya for me, pero siyempre, mas mataas ito kasi SEA Games so parang very throwback din since naka-barong and everything,” she said.

“Iba pa rin ngayon and since first time ko pong mag-SEA Games, iba ang feeling na nire-represent ang country natin. Hopefully, makapag-poidum this SEA Games.”

Belen admitted that the road to another podium finish would not be easy, as they have a shorter preparation time than other teams.

“Siyempre, we’re aiming for the gold. Lahat naman po siguro talagang aim ay ang gold. Pero siyempre hindi magiging madali for us lalo na at iyon nga, hindi naman ganoon naging kahaba ang naging preparation po natin,” she admitted.

“Pero alam naman namin na ibibigay namin talaga ang best namin and hopefull, makapag-podium tayo.”

Alyssa Solomon’s Japan Stint an Advantage

Belen’s long-time teammate, Alyssa Solomon, is also included in the SEA Games lineup. For the 6-foot-2 opposite spiker, her stint in Japan as a member of the Osaka Marvelous would be of great help in their campaign.

‘Super excited po since ‘yun nga, kakabalik ko lang po, and excited lang ako i-apply kung ano ‘yung mga natutunan ko sa Japan and ma-experience ko ‘yung first-ever SEA Games ko,” she said.

“Marami naman po [natutunan], and ayun, super nahubog talaga ako as a player. I think ‘yung blocking po, and ‘yun nga siguro pinagtuunan ng pansin since ‘yung naging role ko po doon is ‘yung double sub.

Although the team has a shorter preparation time, Solomon remained confident that the camaraderie they have built over the years playing together on the national team can be an advantage.

“Malaking bagay po talaga ‘yung chemistry, and I think mas naging buo po kami as a team. Very excited po kami to play sa SEA Games. Bibigay lang po namin siguro ‘yung best namin sa mga games, and ‘yun po, sana po suportahan kami kahit ano mangyari.”

Youth as X Factor

For a team that has players who have just graduated from college, youth can be considered inexperienced, but not for the Alas Pilipinas women’s team.

For the 22-year-old Angel Canino, their youth can be an advantage as they face stronger, more experienced teams at the biennial regional meet.

She said, “Well, mas bata ngayon ‘yung mga players sa SEA Games, pero siguro it’s an advantage rin for us kasi galing kami sa paglalaro with pride. Malaking tulong ‘yung mga naging tournaments namin kasi nakita rin namin ‘yung mga lapses na pagbalik ng training, aayusin na lang at i-improve na lang ‘yung mga nakita naming mali namin.”

Canino is one of the eight players making their SEA Games debut, alongside Belen, Solomon, Shaina Nitura, Amie Provido, Justine Jazareno, Mars Alba, Vanie Gandler, and Alleiah Malaluan.

“For SEA Games, siyempre excited ako, willing to commit talaga, and ready to accept the challenge. ‘Yung tiwala sa bawat isa, tapos ‘yung will to win, ‘yung heart na meron ang bawat isa, hindi matutumbasan ng kahit ano,” she said.

“So I think this is another level of pride kasi siyempre dala-dala namin lahat ng mga kababayan namin, buong Pilipinas. So kahit mas bata ‘yung mga maglalaro sa SEA Games, ma-e-expect niyo na magpu-push talaga sila nang todo-todo, at ita-try talaga namin ‘yung best namin to perform and showcase kung ano ‘yung kaya namin para sa mga Pilipino.

“Kaya rin namin kinuha ‘tong responsibility na ‘to para ipakita na may kaya rin kami as Filipinos.”

Jia De Guzman’s Experience

Despite fielding a younger core, Alas Pilipinas women’s team will lean on the experience of team captain and setter Jia De Guzman, who has been leading the team for quite some time now.

Making her fourth SEA Games appearance, De Guzman knew that the challenges that would come their way towards their dream of having a podium finish would not be easy.

“I think every SEA Games, I’ve experienced na parating may challenge talaga. We’re going up against teams na, again, paulit-ulit nating sinasabi, have had time to prepare for this kasi we know naman SEA Games will happen; it’s every two years,” she said candidly.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that the girls, the team, the coaches – we work hard every day to do what we can, despite whatever is happening. So, yea, no matter what happens, lahat ng pwede namin ibuhos sa court, gagawin talaga namin.”

Although they have a short preparation for the SEA Games, the core members of the national team have been playing since last year and have already competed together in several international leagues.

“Well, we’ve gone up against some of the teams that we’re going to play against this SEA Games. So may confidence kami on that. May familiarity na rin kami with each other kasi last year pa kami naglalaro as a team. The system is there,” she explained.

“It’s just that, compared to last year’s AVC, where we only had maybe three days to prepare and the whole tournament to make in-game adjustments, this time around, we’ve had two seasons of being Alas Pilipinas.”

At the end, De Guzman remained hopeful that the team could perform well in the regional meet happening in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I think we kind of expected naman talaga na the preparation leading up to the SEA Games was going to be a big challenge. We knew there were tournaments for both professional and university teams that would happen before the SEA Games – things that were out of control,” she ended.

“But yes, we do wish that we had more time to prepare for this. But nevertheless, ‘yung communication, ‘yung familiarity – we have that.”

The Alas Pilipinas women’s national team will go up against Thailand on Thursday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. (Philippine time), and against Singapore on Friday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. (Philippine time).