Photo courtesy of Aby Maraño
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand — Things are looking up for Philippine volleyball and no one is as optimistic as Majoy Baron.
The 24-year-old who just won the Best Middle Blocker award in the Asean Volleyball Grand Prix feels the team just took a big leap toward its goal to reclaim its lost glory.
“I think it’s possible because you see we only have a few days to train and we saw improvement in every game,” said Baron, a former UAAP Most Valuable Player.
“We got a lot of potential, but we need to establish foundation and a longer training time,” said Baron, who averaged 4.6 kill blocks per game during the inaugural edition of the Asean GP.
But longer time in training is not possible without the green light from club teams where all the players are attached.
“We saw it happen with Thailand, we can also do it,” she added. “Here they enjoy everybody’s support.”
The former La Salle standout said the country’s third-place finish is a clear indication that Philippine volleyball is in the upswing after more than a decade in the doldrums.
Thailand crushed Indonesia to capture the title of the inaugural meet which will have its second leg back home in Laguna from Oct. 4 to 6.
“Personally, my mindset is get everything I can get, there’s nothing to lose but everything to gain that’s why when we took a set against Thailand it was a big deal because I don’t know when was the last time we did that to Thailand,” she said.
The Philippines last won a SEA Games gold in 1993 and its last medal was a bronze in 2005. Before that, the country has six SEA Games championships starting in 1977.
But the country’s volleyball program has been rocked by infighting inside the volleyball association back in the mid-90s, before a bitter club league war erupted in the early 2010s.
“If only the clubs can be united and the volleyball community will come as one, everything is possible,” said Baron. “But of course, it’s going to take a lot of work.”