ANTIPOLO — Eli Soyud has long been overlooked in her volleyball career, from her college days in Adamson and La Salle to the pros.
Riding her best form yet with Akari, alongside a surprise Alas Pilipinas tryout invite, the 29-year-old winger is seizing every moment of what has been a personal Cinderella run.
Her career-best 34-piece in Akari’s semis-opening five-set win over Choco Mucho proved her indubitable skillset, but it was her maturity and composure in the face of doubts and criticism on her national team invite that proved how she’s a much grown player this time around.
READ: PVL deploys foreign referees to further bolster impartiality
“Nagulat ako na nandun ako sa wishlist. No one expected na nandu’n ako,” Soyud told reporters shortly after her heroic semis showing.
“Kahit namang sino nandu’n, lahat naman may masasabi. Ako, maglalaro lang ako para sa team ko para matulungan sila at para maka-angat kami.”
The foundation of Soyud’s renaissance boils down to the trust from her teammates and one she’s found within herself.
“Ito na yung time ko Nabigyan ako ng playing time. Gusto ko rin na hindi yun masayang,” Soyud said.
“Sa’kin na rin yun na binigyan na ko ng playing time so dapat i-grab ko ‘tong opportunity na ‘to para rin sa career ko na makapaglaro pa sa loob and mapatunayan na kaya ko pa talaga.”
Soyud is no stranger to international tours of duty, having played for the Philippine national team in the 2023 AVC Women’s Challenge Cup under incumbent mentor Jorge Souza de Brito’s tutelage with most of her fellow Chargers.
But even if such a career-defining opportunity awaits in a matter of months, Soyud’s lone focus is crystal clear: win Akari its first franchise title.
“Yung focus ko talaga ngayon, PVL.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
