Women’s volleyball: Home crowd a force during PH’s game against Thailand

By Betheena Unite

If the Philippine women’s volleyball team gave Thailand a game to remember, the home crowd gave them theirs.

Only 3,700 spectators came to watch the Philippines against powerhouse Thailand Thursday night but the pandemonium inside seemed like the whole country was crammed inside the Philsports Arena.

The home crowd, half of the 6,000 spectators in the country’s first outing, was so into the game that it looked like the home team was leading throughout instead of trailing until they turned the third set into a rubber match.

The amazing crowd, who cheered their hearts out even the country was on the losing end, was enough to boost the confidence and even bring back memories of the nationals players.

“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,” said Majoy Baron, who had a fair share of big crowds during her collegiate career especially when her school, De La Salle, was up against archrival Ateneo in the UAAP.

From the first set to the last frame, the Filipino crowd had consistently celebrated each point with deafening cheers and animated 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 of the Philippines as she took turns with Alyssa Valdez in erasing a five-point Thailand lead to tie 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 its 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 savoring the moment.

“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.

Even national team head coach Shaq delos Santos was delighted with the crowd’s presence and intensity as he quipped, “Hangga’t maaari ayaw nga naming matapos, e kahit umabot ng 100, okay lang, alam mo yun. Yung pakiramdam kanina na tuloy lang.”

The Filipinas lost the game after pulling off a late scare which the perennial champion Thailand endured to finish off the home team 25-16, 25-22, 34-32.

Source: Manila Bulletin