MARS Alba was one of three setters along with captain Jia de Guzman and Julia Coronel selected in Alas Pilipinas’ 20-woman pool for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand this December.
The national team mainstay still has to fight for a spot in the final 14 set to fly the flag in the biennial meet with the hope of winning the Philippines’ first SEAG women’s volleyball medal in 20 years.
Not only is Alba already familiar with Alas, but she’s also armed with two key advantages that has so far brought out the best in her fast-rising game.
READ: Jia De Guzman, Solomon lead 20-player Alas pool for SEA Games
Firstly, to have a longtime national team pillar and Philippine volleyball legend in Tina Salak who was part of the country’s last SEAG medal-winning team as her Akari head coach has been the opportunity of a lifetime for the 25-year-old setter.
“Malaking bagay si coach T and ‘yung sistema niya kasi feel na feel ko talaga na fit ako sa sistemang gusto niyang mangyari [sa Akari],” Alba told SPIN.ph.
“Ineenjoy ko lang ‘yug bawat training and bawat learning sa araw-araw with her. Masaya kasi nakikita ko ‘yung improvement ko na kahit hindi pa ganun kalaki, ‘yung progress naman, unti-unti nang nandu’n.”
She will also have the luxury of having nine fellow ex-Lady Spikers-turned-Nationals from the same Ramil de Jesus brand of volleyball mentorship in the college ranks.
Most of them she shared the UAAP stage with in Angel Canino, Fifi Sharma, Julia Coronel, Leila Cruz, Thea Gagate, Alleiah Malaluan, Amie Provido and Justine Jazareno.
With the exception of co-captain Dawn Catindig, Alba is optimistic that such a familiarity with her green-and-white cohort can breed success in the country’s pursuit of regional history.
“Malaking bagay siya kasi coming from same school sa La Salle, hindi na ganun ka-hirap mag-adjust. ‘Yung connection, nandu’n na and mas pa-practice-in na lang talaga,” Alba added.
With six names to be removed from the 20-player list, the Akari setter is confident of what she can bring to the table for flag and country.
“Same lang sa mga last competitions ng Alas na ibibigay ko kung anuman ‘yung pwede kong maitulong sa team at all-out na talaga lagi para makapag-support sa kung anuman ‘yung kahinaan pa ng team,” she said.
“Hoping ako na ma-lineup ako this coming SEA Games kasi dream ko rin ‘yun na makapaglaro pero focus muna ako this conference kahit nire-require naman kami mag-train once a week with Alas para ma-familiarize pa sa sistema nila coach Jorge.”
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