In a year of many firsts for Alyssa Solomon, suiting up in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand has been a fitting cherry on top.
Not only is this her maiden SEA Games appearance, but she is also sharing the moment with someone she grew up winning alongside at National University in Bella Belen.
Solomon and Belen combined for six UAAP titles across the high school and collegiate ranks as Lady Bullpups-turned-Lady Bulldogs.
And for the first time in nearly a decade, Season 87 marked the end of their long run as teammates, with Belen joining Capital1 in the PVL and Solomon taking her talents overseas to reigning Japan SV.League champion Osaka Marvelous.
So when their 25-13, 25-8, 25-18 rout of Singapore on Friday delivered both their first SEA Games win, the reunion felt even more special.
“Sobrang happy ako na kasama ko pa rin siya kasi after college, may sepanx pa rin po ako na hindi ko na po siya naging teammate. Super happy lang na kasama ko siya sa SEA Games,” Solomon said.
Winning came almost automatically for the two back in their NU days. But in the international arena, nothing will come easy but they intend to fight their hardest to bring that Midas touch from Jhocson to Bangkok.
“Nandu’n pa rin ‘yung eagerness namin na manalo sa game ngayon, lalo na’t hindi naging maayos ‘yung result yesterday. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung gusto naming result kaya ngayon po namin binawi ‘yun sa laro ngayon,” she added.
A win away from a medal
The synergy Solomon and Belen built over nearly a decade has yet to fully take shape within this hastily-assembled Alas Pilipinas squad.
“‘Yung team chemistry pa, ‘yun ‘yung napansin kong kulang pa sa’min pero iwo-work pa namin ‘yun,” Solomon admitted.
“Kanina, nagkakailangan pa kami kung sino kukuha ng bola. ‘Yun ‘yung naging problema namin sa games at ‘yun ‘yung kailangan naming ayusin.”
With the semifinals up next and the stakes at their highest, time is no luxury. But Alas Women will have to move like clockwork if they hope to end a 20-year SEA Games podium drought.
Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand remain the familiar hurdles ahead — none of them a simple climb.
Still, Solomon believes they will be ready.
“Kailangan ‘yung eagerness pa rin namin na ipanalo ‘yung remaining games at ‘di kami magsasawang matuto sa games na lalaruan namin,” she said.
“Ilang beses na rin po namin silang nakalaban. Although iba ‘yung roster nila ngayon, paghahandaan talaga namin sila.”
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