MANILA – Julia Morado-de Guzman and Angel Canino of the Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team received individual citations at the close of the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Morado-de Guzman, the team captain of the Philippine women’s volleyball team, was named the tournament’s Best Setter, while the Negrense Canino was awarded the Best Opposite Spiker award.
The 29-year-old Morado-de Guzman showcased her efficient ball distribution throughout the entire tournament, leading Alas Pilipinas to a historic bronze medal finish in the week-long competition.
“It feels surreal. I think it’s going to take a while for it to sink in kasi we went into this not expecting anything. We went and we’re not expecting anything and now we’re going home with a medal,” said Morado-de Guzman.
“We’re really hopeful, we’re looking forward to more preparations for the upcoming tournaments that we will play in kasi ganito yung napakita namin ngayon. We just hope na now we just keep improving and move up,” she added.
The 20-year-old Canino, on the other hand, showed her effectiveness for the Jorge Edson Souza de Brito-led national team despite being switched to the opposite spiker position in the tournament.
“Para sa akin I take it as a challenge,” Canino said, regarding her position shift. “I’m very proud of the team, the management and the coaches kasi siyempre given the preparation time, nakuha pa namin magka-bronze.”
“So I’m very proud of us kasi hindi biro yung pinagdadaanan din namin as individuals and as a team. Ang masasabi ko lang din, I’m very proud inall-out talaga namin yung isa’t isa,” the Negrense added.
The De La Salle University Lady Spikers star further said that she is looking forward to more opportunity to carry the national team’s colors in international competitions.
Alas Pilipinas are looking to continue the momentum as they compete in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup, scheduled for July 4–7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila./PN
