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Screams of jubilation pealed inside the locker room after a hard-earned five-set win over Vietnam in the tournament being used to gauge the Filipinos’ readiness for the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“I’m very proud of the players, they did all they could given the limitations we had,” said head coach Shaq Delos Santos following a 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-12 nipping of the Vietnamese at Terminal 21 Mall.
But the Nationals know the mission is just beginning as the country’s hopes to medal—and consolidate on the sport’s success—rest squarely on their shoulders.
“This is what we came for. We didn’t come here to lose. This is part of our goal, and that is to win the SEA Games [title] back home,’ said Ces Molina, the central figure in the PH offense.
Teams the Filipinos faced here will be the same team going to the SEA Games this November.
“These players accomplished more than what was expected of them,” said Joey Romasanta, the president of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas.
He also didn’t mince words in praising them: “This is how the SEA Games is going to be. You outdid yourselves.”
The squad, still incomplete and hastily formed because of injuries, lost a close five-set match to Indonesia, which was playing Thailand in the finals late Sunday.
The Philippines also forced the Thais, SEA Games champs since 1995, to four sets before going down.
The Nationals play in the Asean GP’s second leg on Oct. 4 to 6 in Laguna before going to training camp in Japan on Oct. 20.