AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas looks to bank on ‘weapons’ vs taller India

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024

Alas Pilipinas in its debut in the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 against Australia. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Riding on the crest of Alas Pilipinas’ big win over Australia, coach Jorge Souza De Brito continues to lean on the team’s strengths against another tall team, India, in the AVC Challenge Cup on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The women’s national team banked on Jia De Guzman’s veteran smarts and “a lot of weapons” to overcome a slow start and subdue the taller Australians, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21, on Thursday evening in front of an electric 4,945 crowd.

De Brito, who earned his biggest home win yet as the national team coach for the past three years, lauded De Guzman’s leadership and his wards’ discipline and cooperation with their system.

READ: AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas beats taller Australia to kick off campaign

“Everybody in this gym, also the opponents know that she’s the best setter. She’s one of the best setters we have. She already played outside the country and she’s been leading one team, winning and winning for years, so she has this capacity to lead some young guys,” said the Brazilian coach of the Denso AiryBees setter in Japan.

Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito after winning their first game in the #AVCChallengeCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/V81ay7zymZ

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 23, 2024

“Of course, the guys receive for her, the guys block for her, so it’s quite easy to play with her because she has the skills. The guys helped, so we played as a team,” he added.

Angel Canino and Eya Laure led the way with 17 points each with the former getting praised by De Brito for her quick adjustment as a converted opposite spiker. Sisi Rondina chipped in 16 points, Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma formed a formidable frontline, and Dawn Macandili-Catindig protected the floor.

READ: AVC Cup: Angel Canino shines as opposite hitter in Alas Pilipinas debut

As they face the unbeaten India, which won its first two games in Pool A, De Brito urged his team  utilize their advantage like they did against the taller Aussies.

“It’s always play better and win. Win is always the result after you play good. I don’t want to compare. They are taller than us but we can be faster than them. We have to take advantage of the skills that we have better than them,” said De Brito. “In this case, the receive was good, we have a good setter and a lot of weapons, a lot of good players, middle blockers, opposite [spiker] and everything.”

The Alas coach was pleased with the team’s improving chemistry despite not having a scrimmage and only training for a few days. But he hopes this latest national team players will continue to improve as he seeks to field more players against India.

“I think in this competition you can also grow much more. We didn’t put the other guys also so for [India] we’re gonna use other guys because they’re a little tired after the tournament. We’ll be good better than this,” he said.