Eya Laure and Angel Canino have cemented their status as the linchpins of the Alas Pilipinas Women’s team, leading the charge in the ongoing 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
After a stellar debut, both players once again demonstrated their prowess in a decisive 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 victory over India on Friday night.
Canino, a La Salle standout, delivered a commanding performance with 22 points, comprising 19 attacks, two aces, and one block.
Laure, the Chery Tiggo star, was equally impressive, contributing 17 points with 15 attacks and two service aces. This win propelled Alas Pilipinas to the top of Pool A with a perfect 2-0 record.
Despite their individual brilliance, Canino and Laure were quick to share the credit with their teammates.
“Di naman po namin magagawa lahat ng puntos na ‘yon kung ‘di dahil sa team effort at kung ‘di pinaghihirapan ng bawat isa. Kailangan talaga namin ‘yung isa’t isa sa loob ng court and ‘yung puntos naman na ‘yon, hindi naman ‘yon para sa’min. Para sa team ‘yon, para sa Pilipinas,” said Canino.
Laure echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collective effort.
“Di talaga namin magagawa ‘to kung ‘di dahil sa kanila (teammates). ‘Yung team effort na ginagawa namin sa bawat laro kasi, hindi kakayanin ng isa o dalawa lang talaga. Team effort lang lagi kasi malaki talaga ang mararating kapag magtutulungan ‘yung team at patuloy na maniniwala,” echoed Laure.
Alas Pilipinas faced a familiar challenge in their match against India, mirroring their opening game with a shaky start before rallying to take the next three sets. Laure highlighted that their resilience stemmed from strong teamwork and communication. "Jelling and teamwork, really. Teamwork, communication, and of course, following the coaches' instructions."
With upcoming matches against Iran and Chinese Taipei, the Philippines is in a promising position to advance to the semifinals, aiming to surpass their previous seventh-place finish. Canino and Laure are fully aware of the stakes and are committed to making the most of this rare opportunity.
“Sobrang different na ‘to at sobrang bihirang opportunity na ‘to na nabigay sa’min. I-gagrab na namin ‘to and siyempre kung ano ‘yung nakikita naming mali, we’ll try to minimize it next time,” said Canino.
Laure added, “Siyempre nandito na kami. Hindi namin bibitawan ‘to nang basta-basta. ‘Yung opportunity, hindi naman ‘to basta-bastang dumadating lang. Ngayong nandito na sa harap namin, i-mamaximize namin at gagawin pa namin as a team ‘yung pinaka-maganda na pwede naming magawa para sa bayan."
As Alas Pilipinas marches forward, the dynamic duo of Canino and Laure remains at the forefront, driving the team's quest for glory with their exceptional skills and unwavering dedication.
