Alas Pilipinas. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
Former national team member Jaja Santiago was proud to see Alas Pilipinas overcome adversities amid the short preparation for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
Santiago even asserted that this Jia de Guzman-led roster could even reach as far as VNL and the Olympics as she witnessed Alas sweep Pool A of the AVC tourney after a rousing 25-13, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Chinese Taipei on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Former national team member Jaja Santiago believes in the talent of Alas Pilipinas members and says she is proud of the squad. #AVCChallengeCup @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/M4UjnZNBPo
ā Kennedy Caacbay (@kennedyzcaacbay) May 26, 2024
"We really have a big potential na eventually we'll be in VNL or in Olympics. And with this kind of lineup, I think we can get that dream," Santiago told reporters.
READ: Semis-bound Alas Pilipinas sweeps Pool A of AVC Challenge Cup
READ: AVC Challenge Cup: Alas Pilipinas clinches semis spot in rout of Iran
The former National University standout was out there raving about Alas Pilipinas' potential and said that she sees fire in this lineup and also a "palaban" heart as they embark on a volleyball journey on the international stage.
Volleyball star Jaja Santiago watches the Alas Pilipinas-Chinese Taipei battle in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on May 26, 2024. Photo from Joaqui Flores/Premier Volleyball League
"Everyone is palaban, actually, and makikita mo sa lahat na they're really willing to give their best and puso to win every game and sa kanila ā nakikita ko ngayon sa lineup na kahit ipasok, [may character na] 'I will deliver', 'yun 'yung maganda sa characteristic nung mga players ngayon," Santiago went on.
Santiago, who is also undergoing a naturalization process for a Japan citizenship, did not forget to praise the young guns such as Angel Canino and Thea Gagate who put up quality minutes for Alas in the preliminaries.
"I think this is the youngest players [and] team and kahit bata, makikita mo, like [Angel] Canino, kahit sabihin natin this is her first time ā and [Thea] Gagate, first time to play in the national team, you can see their willingness and like, deliver really well sa game."
Right on cue, the Philippine women's national volleyball team moved up to No. 55 in the FIVB world rankings, also eighth in Asia after the perfect run in the prelims.
READ: Alas Pilipinas members commend Jia de Guzman's leadership as PH enters AVC Challenge Cup semis
It was an eight-place jump for the nationals who were 63rd in rankings (12th in Asia) before this tournament.
For the acclaimed middle blocker, this squad can snatch the gold medal in the AVC Challenge Cup.
"'Yung thoughts ko sa Alas Pilipinas [sa] pagpasok sa semis, I think will be more stronger because itong start nila maganda na 'yung pinakita nila and I think going to semifinals the connection [of the team] will be more stronger and they will deliver really, and I think they can be the champions really here in the AVC."
Kazakhstan will try to stop that campaign as they battle in a knockout match on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round.
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