Alas Pilipinas setter Owa Retamar says the team will go all out, no matter what the result yields at the SEA V.League in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
CANDON, ILOCOS SUR — Alas Pilipinas will approach their final game at the 2025 SEA V.League with the same mindset no matter what the implications for their overall standings, as teams jockey for final position Sunday here.
After being dragged into a five-setter by Cambodia on Saturday, Alas Pilipinas technically still have a chance for gold should they sweep their last match against Indonesia. However, they will also need Thailand to lose against the Cambodians in the game prior to their closer, or at least be forced into a similar five-setter.
[READ: Alas Pilipinas beat Cambodia in five sets, keep slim chance of gold in SEA V.League]
According to Alas veteran Owa Retamar, the team will continue to push hard no matter what.
“May chance kami na mag-gold pa bukas. Gagawin namin yung best namin. Kakausapin namin sila mamaya ni kuya Kim [Malabunga] na mag-all out at magpahinga nang maayos [ngayon]. At syempre, no pressure [naman],” Retamar told media after the win over Cambodia.
“Manalo, matalo kami bukas, dapat wala kaming pagsisisihan,” he added.
Retamar, personally, had missed out on the first two games for Alas due to illness. Now that he was finally able to see action, and on home soil too, he’s happy to lead the team’s offense with his playmaking.
“Masaya pa rin kasi kahit papaano, nakapag-perform pa rin ako ng maayos ngayon. May sumasakit ‘man, syempre kailangan pa rin mag-perform ng maayos at pilitin,” said Retamar.
“Masaya ako kasi maganda yung linaro ng middle [blockers] and outside [spikers].”
Apart from the gold, Retamar said that the team understands that this is also part of the bigger picture of preparing for the upcoming FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships in Manila this September.
Though eager to give the home crowd a show, Retamar knows its more than just this tournament on the line — especially since world ranking points are also being dangled in the SEA V.League for the first time ever.
“Itong SEA V.League, parang training na namin ito sabi nga ni coach Angiolino [Frigoni]. Malalaman dito kung ano pa talaga yung kulang sa amin,” he said.
“Kita sa laro na may mga difficulties kung paano kami magpasa, kung paano kami magrerecover, at kung paano namin macoconvert sa puntos ‘yon,” he continued.
Alas faces Indonesia in the tournament’s curtain closer with the result directly dictating their final standing in the regional tournament.