The grind continues

Alas Pilipinas is embracing the challenge and pressure of high expectations in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand later this year, following a fruitful campaign in its previous tournament.

Brazilian head coach Jorge De Brito vowed that Alas will not rest on its laurels after a historic silver medal finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup held recently in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The grind continues as the squad builds up for the biennial meet from 9 to 20 December.

“Expectations are getting high because we’re getting the results now. But it’s gonna be hard. We will prepare for this moment,” De Brito said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The tactician, whose tenure ends this year after the conclusion of the SEA Games, will be hard-pressed to steer Alas to a podium finish and end the Philippines’ 20-year SEA Games medal drought.

It was in the 2005 edition in Bacolod when the Filipinas under Ramil de Jesus and bannered by setter Tina Salak copped bronze.

The Philippines lost in the battle for bronze to Vietnam in 2017 and three straight to Indonesia since 2019. The last gold medal finish by the Nationals was in 1993 in Singapore.

But things look promising for the feisty Alas led by a good mix of veterans and youngbloods.

“Yes, same with what coach said, of course there’s a lot of pressure to produce more results especially now we’re reaching heights that we haven’t reached before,” team captain and back-to-back Nations Cup Best Setter Jia de Guzman said.

Alas lost to three-peat champion Vietnam in the Nations Cup finals in straight sets last Saturday.

However, Vietnamese head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet admitted that Alas has developed into a legitimate threat in the region.

Preparation is key for Alas to be able to contend for a podium.

“Well at the same time, the other teams are also preparing well for this competition. For example, Thailand. They’re exposed to VNL (Volleyball Nations League) teams right now. Vietnam is also leveling up and Indonesia. Everyone is doing their training camps now abroad. So, everyone is very focused now on doing their preparations. Same as us,” De Guzman said.

Alas will compete in the VTV Cup late this month in Vietnam before participating in the two-leg SEA V.League in July.

“If we look at it that high, there’s so much, the pressure comes with it and some people react differently to pressure,” the Alas skipper said.

“So for us, the No. 1 thing is to trust the process. Trust coach’s system, trust each other, and just keep showing up each day to be better,” she added.

“But, of course, yes, we will fight for that podium finish as we do in every tournament.”