SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024
Alas Pilipinas’ Fifi Sharma and Eya Laure celebrate a point during their game against Australia in thw AVC Challenge Cup 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines — After an impressive start in front of an electric crowd, Fifi Sharma hopes Alas Pilipinas sustains its momentum as it battles unbeaten India in a crucial Pool A match in the AVC Challenge Cup on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Sharma had a decent national team debut with seven points to help Alas overcome the taller Australia, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21, on Thursday evening.
“This is a very big factor to the team because this win is important, given that a lot of people supported us today. They were a factor why we won,” said Sharma, who manned the frontline with former La Salle teammate Thea Gagate.
READ: AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas looks to bank on ‘weapons’ vs India
The Akari middle blocker, who drilled emphatic quick attacks off Jia De Guzman’s sets and formed a solid net defense with Gagate, got her moment when the majority of the 4,945 fans serenaded her with “Fifi! Fifi! Fifi!” chants.
“I was super touched. It was so surreal hearing hundreds of people chant your name, oh my gosh [I’m giddy],” said Sharma.
Fifi Sharma after her Alas Pilipinas debut. #AVCChallengeCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tMQSvIq8vK
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 23, 2024
One of her biggest supporters is her father and former PBA player Carlo Sharma, who expressed his support to his daughter on Akari Sports’ social media pages.
READ: AVC Cup: Jia De Guzman’s leadership brings Alas Pilipinas together
“I’m extremely proud of Fifi and her accomplishments recently. Being part of the national team is a great honor, playing at the highest level representing our country,” said Carlo. “Our family is behind Fifi and the team [in] every step of the way. All the best Team Pilipinas!”
Receiving great fan support on her national team debut, Sharma was relieved that they were able to recover from the first-set loss by sticking to coach Jorge Souza De Brito’s system.
“It was a wake-up call for us that we have to be more disciplined with our system, even though we only had limited preparation. As long as everyone is determined to work hard and as one, we can get the remaining sets [And we did it],” she said.
Sharma was surprised with her decent performance, which will inspire her in their remaining Pool A games, where only the top two will advance to the crossover knockout semifinals next week.
“I feel like we were just all excited to show what we can do and I didn’t expect that this will be the result in this game, given the short preparation. But I am happy, the team achieved this win today,” she said.