THE gold rush continued for the Philippines as two of its own aces in Jia de Guzman and Thea Gagate were feted as part of the region’s finest volleyball stars in Leg 1 of the 2024 SEA V.League.
READ: Alas beats Indonesia, secures SEA V.League podium finish
History was made by the nationals upon ending an two-year, 11-game tournament skid to deny Indonesia a fourth consecutive bronze medal and give the Philippines its first in five years instead.
Hence, yet another triumphant playmaking display earned the Alas Pilipinas skipper the competition’s best setter nod.
Jia is still gold
De Guzman’s swift control of Alas’ offense gave the Philippines its first medal finish in four years since their bronze medal run in the regional meet’s inaugural edition in 2019 where she was also the team’s lead setter.
Her most recent individual accolade also becomes her second as Alas captain after winning the same distinction in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women — a historic campaign that saw the Philippines end a 63-year medal drought in AVC-sanctioned play.
Taft tower rising
Meanwhile, Gagate’s won every top middle blocker nod in all three seasons she spent with the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP, becoming the first to win the nod since her fellow Taft tower Majoy Baron in 2019.
And in her third tournament for Alas, she just earned her first of many in the international stage.
The former La Salle ace and PVL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick ran the show on defense for the Philippines and was hailed the opening leg’s 1st best middle blocker.
Gagate made three kill blocks in a tight opening loss to Vietnam, two in a crushing sweep at the hands of now-six-time champion Thailand and three more net rejections in Alas’ eventual bronze-medal clincher over Indonesia.
She is joined in the winner’s circle by veteran Vietnamese blocker Dinh Thi Tra Giang.
Another one of Vietnam’s stars in Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen earned the best opposite spiker plum to cap their fourth straight silver-medal finish.
Completing a star-studeed list of awardees are a trifecta of Thai volleyball pillars in Chatchu-on Moksri (MVP, 1st best outside hitter), Ajcharaporn Kongyot (2nd best outside hitter) and Piyanut Pannoy (best libero).
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