Alas team captain Jia De Guzman reflected on another painful loss in the SEA Games bronze medal match, calling for a long-term program following another near miss on the podium.
Another Southeast Asian Games medal slipped away from Alas Pilipinas Women.
The Philippines once again suffered heartbreak at the hands of Indonesia, enduring a close 26-28, 25-13, 28-30, 24-26 loss at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok on Monday, December 15.
The loss extended the country's medal drought in SEA Games women's volleyball, with the last medal being a bronze during the 2005 edition in Manila.
Team captain Jia De Guzman walked out of the bronze medal match carrying more than disappointment, as the loss to Indonesia became a painful reminder on why Philippine volleyball’s climb cannot be rushed.
“Well, I think, ito na ‘yung pinagdadasal namin,” De Guzman told reporters after the match. “We’ve always talked about having a long-term program. This is only our second year together. This is not yet it.”
Measuring growth, not guessing direction
The wait for a SEA Games medal in women’s volleyball will now pass over 20 years, yet De Guzman framed the result as an honest checkpoint rather than a failure.
[ALSO READ: Jia De Guzman admits Alas Pilipinas still a long way from catching up to Asian powerhouses]
With just over two weeks of preparation for SEA Games 2025, Alas Women chose to measure themselves by effort and growth this time around.
“Manalo man, matalo, basta lahat maiwan namin sa court,” De Guzman said. “Doon mo lang malalaman kung nasaan ka na bilang isang team.”
De Guzman pointed to gains in cohesion and system familiarity as signs that the foundation is slowly taking shape, even under less-than-ideal circumstances.
“Sobrang proud ako sa cohesiveness at sa pag-step namin sa sistema, despite having very little preparation,” she added.
[ALSO READ: Jia De Guzman sees SEA Games as culmination of Alas Pilipinas' two-year journey]
What comes next?
Now in her fourth SEA Games, De Guzman knows that painful losses often teach the most enduring lessons, especially for younger players experiencing the tournament for the first time.
“Kahit gano’n kasakit, I always learn something new,” she said. “Use this as motivation to get better. There's always something to improve moving forward.”
Alas Pilipinas Women during their bronze medal match against Indonesia in the SEA Games 2025. | Photo: POC Media Pool
With the club season looming once again, the veteran setter stressed that continuity must be matched by proper preparation if Alas Pilipinas are to finally break through.
“If we really want the medal na matagal na nating inaantay, we have to prepare for tournaments like this,” De Guzman said.
[ALSO READ: Jia de Guzman hopeful for PH volleyball’s future with 2029 FIVB World Championship hosting]
Her message, she also emphasized, goes beyond this current Alas roster and these SEA Games.
“This is for the badge, for the next generations of Alas,” De Guzman said. “We can do that too.”
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.