IN its biggest game yet in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women, Alas Pilipinas sent out a signal to its bench - and Arah Panique came running to try and save the day.
Panique, the sparingly used National University opposite spiker who was only tapped for the national team as last-minute replacement for teammate Alyssa Solomon, stood tall in a losing effort to Kazakhstan in the knockout semifinals on Tuesday.
READ Kazakhstan ends Alas Pilipinas dream run in hard-fought semis
She was the national team's lone natural opposite, but willingly stepped back as head coach Jorge Souza de Brito went with Angel Canino as newly-converted utility spiker for the most part in pool play.
Still, the Naga College Foundation product was always ready for whenever her shining moment came.
And it just so happened to be in an all-important semifinals in front of a 5,500-strong crowd at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
From leading a late push in Set 1 to a consistent string of power hits in the loss to Kazakhstan, it took everything in her as well as the trust of her veteran playmaker and team captain Jia de Guzman to bring out the best she had to offer.
“Pinakita ko lang po kung ano yung kaya ko. Sinasabi lagi ng mga ates na magtiwala lang palagi sa sarili and sa ibang kasama po. Especially kay ate Jia, nagbigay talaga siya ng tiwala and sa mga coaches na nagtitiwala din po sa'kin na ipasok po ako and always ready lang yung sarili,” the 18-year-old ace said.
That's why after a breakout game under the brightest of lights, her confidence is at an all-time high.
“Sobrang lakas na po ng loob ko, na (pag) pinasok ako, kailangan ko ibigay yung kaya kong gawin and siyempre, pinagkatiwalaan po ako so ipapakita ko lang talaga yung makakaya ko,” Panique added.
Moreover, the guidance of her Lady Bulldogs seniors Solomon and newly-minted two-time MVP Bella Belen meant the world to her.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga ates ko sa NU Lady Bulldogs kasi ang mga nagagawa ko po dito, dahil din po sa kanila yun kasi marami po silang mga advice. And thankful lang po talaga ako sa kanila.”
Veterans' stamp of approval
Panique’s heroic stand against the mighty Kazakhs didn’t go unnoticed for de Guzman and de Brito, who handpicked the UAAP champion and ended up becoming the national team’s youngest player.
“Si Arah kasi, sobrang ganda ng pasok niya kanina. She added so much sa offense namin and at the same time, she’s just so energetic and so eager to play na kaming nasa loob, nadadala rin kami.”
“Ang ganda rin kasi nakikita namin na malalim din ‘yung bench namin and bukas, magagamit pa rin namin ‘yun,” said de Guzman.
'No surprise for me'
“It was not a surprise for me. The guys who were watching the games in the UAAP know that she has potential. She's not under pressure anymore to play under any kind of competition. She's really comfortable."
"She's young. She makes some mistakes, but it happens only when the players go inside. So I'm really proud of her. Not even showing any hesitation to do any actions inside,” de Brito added.
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