SHE’S won it all in the college ranks but for Angel Canino, playing for flag and country in front of a roaring, 4,945-strong crowd is a fulfillment of a family dream.
The former UAAP MVP and La Salle ace spiker recalled the overwhelming feeling of her first-ever stint for the flag — from the moment she stepped into the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum to the jubilant post-game celebratory scenes.
READ: Alas Pilipinas dominates Aussies in confident AVC Challenge Cup debut
Her Philippine team debut was one she’ll remember for the honor and pride that it brought.
Just like her dad Rodel, who played for the Philippine team twice in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games back in Indonesia 1997 (beach volleyball) and Vietnam 2003 (indoor volleyball), Angel finally had her moment for the three stars and a sun.
“Sobrang nakakatuwa po as in parang pagpasok ko dito (sa Rizal Memorial Coliseum). Grabe, grabe talaga,” said Canino.
“Puno talaga ‘to ng mga Pilipino tapos parang nakikita ko sila na nag-eeffort din na sumisigaw, sumusuporta. Grabe, sobrang overwhelming ng feeling tapos sobrang happy ko siyempre. We’re all Filipinos here and we're here to support each other,” she added.
In a national team debut to remember, Canino had a game-high 17 points in the hastily assembled team's opening win over Australia in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women on Thursday.
Angel deflects the credit
“Hindi naman ako ‘yung big reason (kung bakit kami nanalo). The big reason talaga kaya nakuha namin ‘yung win na ‘to is teamwork kasi given na maikli lang ‘yung preparation namin, nagawa namin ‘to led by coaches and ate Jia (de Guzman) talaga,” Canino said.
Her last UAAP Season 86 match was filled with heartbreak as La Salle missed out on the fiinals and relinquishing its women’s volleyball throne.
Canino took it upon herself to ensure that there’s no holding back in the bigger pursuit of representing the country in the international stage.
“Dati, parang sinasabi ko na gigil (ako) kasi I really want na bumawi doon sa last UAAP game ko, pero talagang sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko na all-out na ko (for Alas Pilipinas) kasi walang mangyayari kung hindi ka maga-all out eh.
“Kung gagawin mo lang na ikot lang sa loob ka tapos wala kang gagawin, (walang mangyayari). So sa isip ko, all out na talaga, labas mo na lahat ng pwede mong ilabas,” said Canino.
And with the help of her captain Jia de Guzman, Canino & Co. cut the Aussies down to size in a victorious, momentum-building first act for the Philippine aces.
“Natutuwa ako and sobrang nakakakilig din talaga sa feeling na pinag-seset-an ka ng ‘the’ Jia de Guzman. Na-experience ko ‘yung first game with her and natutuwa ako kasi pinu-push niya talagang magka-connection sa amin (sa team) at sa isa’t isa,” Canino said.
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