PLDT had a first hand experience of playing through what has long been touted as the Philippines’ greatest competitive disadvantage in the international stage — being undersized.
“Definitely, mas mahirap talaga yung game today. Kita rin naman na ‘yung mga ganung 6-footer na yung average [height], masyadong mabigat para sa’min,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort.
“Hindi naman siya excuse. Sadyang ano lang, yung exposure talaga yung hinahanap namin. Kung sa na-gain naman namin, marami kaming natutunan at happy kami na nakapaglaro kami dito."
READ: PLDT bows out of AVC Champions League after loss to Kazakh champs
The High Speed Hitters’ height deficit made an already tall order against the nine-time Kazakh champions even taller as it yielded in a 13-25, 22-25, 20-25 loss to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League quarterfinals.
For context, Zhetysu’s average team height is 179 cm (5’10 1/2). Its tallest player in middle blocker Yakutina Valeriya stands at 189 cm (6’2) and its shortest being libero Beket Madina at 159 cm (5’2).
Meanwhile, PLDT’s average team height stands at 173 cm (5’8). The Philippine team’s tallest player is its guest import Wilma Salas at 190 cm (6’3) while its shortest is also a libero in Kath Arado at 160 cm (5’3).
In the grander scheme of things, height isn’t just the only factor that played to the Philippines’ weaknesses.
As a matter of fact, Ricafort pointed out how this competition exposed even more competitive gaps in the country’s brand of volleyball that need to be addressed.
The silver lining in it all? There’s still some catching up to do but the Philippines isn’t too far behind.
“High-level lang talaga sila pero sa nakikita ko naman na trends [ngayong AVC], hindi naman tayo sobrang layo, ‘di ba? Kita naman siguro yun sa lahat [ng Philippine teams], may reinforcements man o wala. Aabot at aabot naman talaga tayo du’n,” Ricafort said.
“Nadale lang din talaga [tayo] nung mga nakaraang taon na walang nangyari masyado sa Philippine volleyball, pandemic.”
With the help of a veteran reinforcement in Wilma Salas, Ricafort was able to unpack more of what Philippine volleyball can still be.
“Sina Wilma, may mga nashe-share din naman sila mga technical stuff na alam na nila matagal na pero tayo, papunta pa lang du’n,” said Ricafort.
“Nakikita naman na maganda naman yung progress so hopefully, for sure, makakahabol at makakahabol din naman [tayo]. It's a matter of paano magtutuloy-tuloy yung mga ganitong experiences na nakukuha natin."
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