THE noise around Alas Pilipinas Women did not stop when their Asian Games medal hopes did.
After losses to China and Kazakhstan in the group stage ended its bid for a knockout-stage spot, the Philippines was left with the classification phase and plenty of outside discussion to deal with.
READ: Alas routs Qatar, posts Asian Games' most lopsided set yet
There were questions about the team’s performances, rotations and individual players, particularly those who saw limited time.
Inside the team, however, the players have tried to keep the focus on what they can control.
“Mino-motivate lang namin ’yung isa’t isa na ’wag masyadong ma-down at ’wag maging hard sa sarili,” said Mars Alba.
“Siyempre, sa team namin, parang alam namin kung ano ’yung nangyayari sa loob, and marami rin kasing nagsasalita sa labas. Kaya hindi na namin masyadong mina-mind ’yung sinasabi ng nasa labas.”
Alba knows that noise well. The setter hardly saw the court during the group stage, with captain Jia de Guzman taking the lead-setting duties in the losses to China and Kazakhstan.
With Alas Women relegated to the classification stage, Alba received more minutes to open the next phase on Sunday and helped Alas cruise past Qatar, 25-8, 25-2, 25-9, including 19 straight services in that 19-0 start to Set 2.
The result gave the Nationals a much-needed win, but it also underscored the different roles players can have from one game to the next. Alba was mostly on the sidelines in the group stage, then had a bigger opportunity against Qatar.
That can also fuel outside discussion, especially when fans expect certain players to be on the court.
“Siyempre, normal na sa atin ’yung may mga bashers, may mga nasasabi, like, kunwari, kapag hindi napasok ’yung idol nila or hindi nag-perform nang maayos ’yung isa sa atin,” Alba said.
The players, though, have learned to live with that part of representing the Philippines.
“Pero sanay na rin po kasi kami doon, so hindi na kami masyadong naaapektuhan. Nagfo-focus lang kami kung paano kami magpapalakas at kung paano namin ilalaban ’yung Pilipinas.”
There is little Alas can do now about the two group-stage losses or the criticism that followed them. What remains is the classification campaign, with a ninth-place finish still at reach.
“Basta mag-focus lang kami sa team namin and kung paano pa kami magpo-progress,” Alba said.
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