BETHEENA KAE UNITE
IF the Philippine women’s volleyball team gave Thailand a game to remember, the home fans also gave their best ‘shout’ during their game in the 30th SEA Games Thursday night.
Though only 3,700 spectators came to watch the Philippines-Thailand tussle, it seemed like the whole country was inside the Philsports Arena.
The atmosphere was electric – loud but animated.
The home crowd cheered their hearts out that it looked like the home team was leading all throughout when in reality the Nationals trailed the entire match until they turned the third set into a marathon match.
Even PH team member Majoy Baron was delighted, saying: “Parang ngayon na lang ulit ako nakapagalaro na ganun yung crowd na sobrang taas ng intensity, yung parang hindi mo na marinig yung mga sinasabi ng mga kasama mo sa loob. Ang sarap sa feeling ulit na ganun yung support.”
The crowd in the UAAP was totally different in the SEA Games as they celebrated
each point with loud cheers and fist pumps – an effort that even long-time national team player Jovelyn Gonzaga could not get over with.
“Napaka-overwhelming ng feeling lalo na lahat ng buong crowd nagchi-cheer na and yun na nga nagja-joust na and sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi ang lagi namin sinasabi is we will give a good fight para mapasaya yung sambayanang Pilipino,” the “Bionic Ilongga” said.
Gonzaga was among the heroines in the epic third set run of the Philippines as she took turns with Alyssa Valdez in erasing the five-point lead of Thailand to tie the set at 24-all.
“Nakita ko sa bawat isa na yung puso lumalaban talaga and yung crowd sobrang nakakatulong din sila kasi sobrang binu-boost nila yung energy namin inside the court so yung third set na yun, ang nasa isip ko lang, ang nasa isip lang namin is beast mode, don’t care. And laban talaga para sa bayan,” Mylene Paat, for her part, said.
While the crowd was already on their feet, some on the edge of their seats, the team’s playmaker Jia Morado bared that inside the court, during that 5-0 surge and the heated extension on the third set, they were just enjoying every bit of it.
“Doon ko na-feel na nag-eenjoy talaga kami sa loob. Achievement sa amin na na-push namin yung Thailand ng ganun kabakbakan talaga…Nakaabot kami nang ganun kalayo kasi nga nag-e-enjoy kami pero nakikita rin namin yung focus sa mukha ng isa’t-isa,” Morado said.
So never mind they lost to the Thais, 25-16, 25-22, 34-32.
After all, the Thais are long-time champions in the region.
