Orphaned by its best players, Alas in worst AVC finish of eighth place

Alyssa Solomon (left) is one of those who readily answered PH call. —MARLO CUETO

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur—Alas Pilipinas suffered its worst finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Cup, but the veteran Alyssa Valdez and the other team elders see a brighter future for the younger members of the national team.

The Nationals woke up on the wrong side of the bed and received a rude exit from Iran, who dealt them a 21-25, 12-25, 21-25 beatdown in the battle for seventh place on Sunday at the Candon City Arena here.

And it was the worst finish for the Philippines, which was seventh in 2023, then won bronze the following year and reached the final in Vietnam last year with a core led by Jia De Guzman, who begged off together with the other members of that squad.

It was a tough result to accept for Valdez, as she and other veterans Ces Molina, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Royse Tubino and Ara Galang had to don the national team colors to fill the big void left and lead the squad that featured young guns Niña Ytang, Cla Loresco and Tin Ubaldo.

“The results may not have gone our way, but our biggest hope is that the younger players continue to answer the call and represent the Philippines in the future,” said an emotional Valdez in Filipino.

“One thing I realized throughout this experience is that I kept asking myself why I made this decision in my volleyball career,” Valdez said. “I think what really surfaced was the realization that the same love I had for volleyball when I was a kid is still the same love I have today for representing the country.”

The Philippines finished Pool A with a 2-3 record, losing to eventual finalists South Korea and Chinese Taipei and a rare five-set defeat from vastly improved Australia.

The future of the Alas program will depend on the decision of the FIVB, which will send an ad hoc committee next week to oversee the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation and meet with the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

The SEA V.League and the Asian Games are part of the Alas women’s team calendar this year.

Although the FIVB and AVC have committed to prioritize the Philippine national teams’ competitions amid the suspension, the 32-year-old Valdez hopes for a continuous program for Alas, assuming that the younger players are wholeheartedly committed.

“At the end of the day, we’re athletes representing our country,” Valdez said. “Beyond all the decisions and uncertainties surrounding everything else, I can confidently say that the players are fully committed. Their hearts are all in, and [we hope for a continuous] program for the generations that will come after us.”

Gonzaga said she already played her final indoor national team game, leaving her Alas career fulfilled despite a disappointing result. INQ