Despite missing the podium at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, Alas Pilipinas team captain Jia de Guzman hopes that the national team program would continue into the future.
“‘Yung long-term program that we keep talking about, I think we got one step down na we were able to maintain the pool for two years,” she said. “Hopefully, the next two years ganun din ‘yung mangyari, but the other steps naman na kailangan tuparin doon sa long-term program na ‘yun is ‘yung proper preparation coming into tournaments like this.”
The core of this Alas Pilipinas iteration, incidentally, have played together in several tournaments, including in the 2025 SEA V.League and 2025 VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup this year. However, for the SEA Games, De Guzman and company still had less than a month to prepare—and it showed in Thailand.
“Like the SEA Games, we already know it comes every two years. Other Olympic-year calendar tournaments, we know when it’s gonna happen,” De Guzman continued. “So, hopefully nga, if we do want na makuha natin ‘yung medal na ‘to, na matagal na naming inaantay, matagal na nating lahat inaantay, we do have to prepare for things like this and, at the same time, kita naman nating lahat, e.”
Preparation and Support Are Paramount
The last time the Philippines finished on the podium was two decades ago at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila. But, according to Jia De Guzman, it’s not for a lack of trying on the players’ part.
“Kahit sinong player pa kunin na mag-represent ng bansa, gusto naming ibibigay ‘yung lahat. So, why not ibigay natin ‘yung suporta and ‘yung tamang preparation para mabigay din natin sa players ‘yung kailangan nila, para maibigay ‘yung medalya sa Pilipinas,” De Guzman said.
For the longest time, the Philippines has struggled to align its leagues with the national team calendar—not just in volleyball, but in other sports as well. De Guzman can only hope for now that these leagues adjust their schedules to allow national athletes proper preparation.
“Actually, even since I came to the national team, different players have been talking about the same thing. I think it’s about time na we hear them out din, ‘di ba? So hopefully. Hindi naman kami titigil dito dahil lang natalo kami,” she said.
“But how can we get that improvement if we don’t support it with the proper preparation? So eto po, this is not just me speaking for me, this is me speaking for their batch, for the younger batch, for the next generation na gustong pumasok sa Alas men’s, women’s, and beach. Everyone, like honestly, we’ve been talking about the same message ever since Alas started last year.
‘They Never Stopped’: Jia De Guzman Points to Rival Nations as Template
De Guzman hammered home her point by tipping her hat to Indonesia and Vietnam, whom she says continued giving support and enough preparation to their national teams.
“Kasi ganun tayo aangat bilang Pilipinas, e, Philippine volleyball. That’s what the other countries are doing. Before Vietnam, natatalo natin. Before Indonesia, every now and then natatalo natin, but ngayon kasi malakas sila kasi they never stopped. They got the support they needed. We can do that too. So ‘yun lang po ‘yung gusto namin.”
At the end of the day, despite the struggle, Jia De Guzman remains committed to moving forward toward Alas Pilipinas’ ultimate goal.
“We will keep moving forward even if we’re back in our teams, universities, or clubs. We will train for a higher purpose. Lahat ng matutunan namin dito, ibabalik namin sa club namin,” vowed the longtime national team member.
