Fearless Alas Women look to slay giant China in Asian Games

Facing nine-time champion China, which has never missed the Asian Games women’s volleyball finals since 1978, is surely a dangerous task.

Yet, Alas Pilipinas skipper Jia De Guzman said that the team feels excitement rather than fear, embracing the rare opportunity to clash with such a giant.

The Philippines will try to pull off the improbable against China to open its Pool B schedule on Wednesday, September 16 at the at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi, Japan.

“Believe it or not, we’re really excited to go against China kasi when do you get the chance to play against the defending champions of the Asian Games, the second placer in the AVC Continental, one of the top teams in the world,” she said.

“So kami, parang there’s no better way for us to know what level we’re in unless we go against teams like that,” added De Guzman, who is returning to the national team after eight years.

“So we’re taking it day by day. Naniniwala kami sa system ni Coach Taka at sa kakayahan namin kasi regardless of what happens at the end, we will learn something,” she added.

Following Dawn Catindig’s replacement by college star Shaina Nitura in this year’s final lineup, De Guzman became the only remaining player from the Philippine squad that finished eighth in the 2018 Jakarta Games.

The 31-year-old veteran playmaker is now leading an Alas team which will also parade pro players Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Eya Laure, Thea Gagate, Dell Palomata, Mars Alba, and Justine Jazareno, as well as other college standouts Nina Ytang, Angel Canino and Amie Provido.

De Guzman said she carries no high expectations for the team but vowed to leave everything they have on the taraflex.

“Nandito pa kami sa start eh, ng journey namin, and we have to be very patient talaga. Kung manalo kami, good. Kung matalo kami, okay lang din kasi it’s necessary for us to go through this process,” she said.

She added that any result will only strengthen Alas’ long-term plan, drawing a comparison to the Thailand team which hurdled numerous obstacles before beating China.

Recently, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian team to qualify for the Olympic Games by taking down China in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Continental Championship to secure a spot at Los Angeles 2028.

Alas will be facing almost the same core of that Chinese team led by Gong Xiangyu, Wu Mengjie, and Wang Yuanyuan.

“Kasi for example lang, yung recent win ng Thailand against China, that’s a very big win, but they went through so many losses against teams that they couldn’t beat before.” De Guzman said.

“Pero kasi, para matuto silang manalo in that stage, they had to go through difficult periods. So kami, we know we have to go through that also,” she said. “That’s why we are fighting for a long-term program para madaanan namin lahat ng kailangan naming madaanan.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines will also battle Kazakhstan on September 17 in the group stage, where it needs a top-two finish to progress to the knockout quarterfinals.