Alas Pilipinas ready to make a mark in AVC Women's 16 tourney

c/o PNVF

Alas Pilipinas under16 girls’ team coach Edwin Leyva puts a premium on the importance of starting the national program young in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship.

Alas U16 opens its campaign in Pool B with an acid test against defending champion Japan on All Saints’ Day at the Princess Sumayya Hall here.

The girls team is composed of talents from Manila, Leyte, Batangas, Talisay, Bukidnon, Nasipit, and Negros Occidental, seeking to prove their worth in the international stage.

“Our preparation went really well. I was honestly impressed with the performance of the kids, especially since they came from different parts of the Philippines — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The team jelled quickly, and that was a great sign,” said Leyva.

“Right now, even with the short preparation time, our training has been really productive. The chemistry is there, and I believe we can compete strongly and hopefully win one or two matches in the elimination round.”

They may come from different provinces but volleyball language and their one goal to represent the country with pride made it easier for Leyva to unite his team.

'Since the players came from different provinces, one of the first challenges we faced was communication. Some of them weren’t very fluent in Tagalog, so we had to adjust. Sometimes we used English or just relied on “volleyball language” to connect with each other,” he said. “Eventually, they started to gel because they listened well and communicated through the game itself.”

Xyz Rayco from Saint Michael College of Caraga is the team captain, leading her fellow opposite spiker Merish Beltran from Gracel Christian College Foundation Taguig and outside hitters Kristel Mirasol from Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School in Talisay, Nadeth Herbon from Leyte National High School, Princess Sajulga from Kibawe Bukidnon, and Kim Peralta of University of Santo Tomas.

The setters are Resty Jane Olaguir (GCCF) and Mischa Ysabel Ambrocio (UST). Frances Ramos also from SMCC Nasipit is the lone libero, while middle blockers Cristina Gale from Sagay, Negros Occidental, Jhenica Sadia (GCCF), and Megan Hernandez (Canossa Lipa) protect the frontline.

Team manager Karl Chan urges their players to make the most of this opportunity in facing the top Asian teams.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these young players, so we want to instill patriotism in each of them. I believe they’ve all answered the call to play for the flag and the country,” Chan said. “We’re hoping that in this AVC U16 Women’s Championship, we’ll be able to showcase the skills of our local talents from different provinces. At the same time, we want to make the country proud and show that no matter where they come from, these players deserve the chance to represent the Philippines.”

The Philippines faces Iran on November 2, with the top two teams from four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.