ANTIPOLO, Philippines – Fans had a wide variety of reactions as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) released its 33-woman wishlist for the next and latest iteration of the Alas Pilipinas national team last Thursday, March 27.
Some were pleased at the inclusion of potential first-timers like UAAP MVP candidate Shevana Laput of La Salle and Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura. Others wondered why superstars like former PVL MVPs Sisi Rondina and Jema Galanza were left out.
Another section of fans, meanwhile, questioned and even criticized the addition of a few players, particularly opposite hitter Eli Soyud, who previously played under current Alas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito during his days with the pioneering batches of the Akari Chargers.
Perhaps as a jab to the doubters, the 29-year-old winger made an emphatic response just two days after the list’s release on Saturday, March 29, as the former Adamson standout exploded with a career-high 34 points as Akari stunned Choco Mucho in a five-set heist to kick off the PVL All-Filipino semifinals.
On fire all day long at the packed Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Soyud finished with 27 attacks and a staggering 7 blocks as she tallied the sixth-most number of points in a single game by a local in PVL history in the captivating fifth-set rally from down 3 at match point, 14-11.
Soyud, however, insisted that all she wanted was to help Akari win and potentially book a PVL finals return, no matter the outside noise.
“No matter who’s on the list, everyone will always have something to say,” she said in Filipino after the nail-biting, history-making victory. “I’m just playing for my team and helping them out so we can all rise together.”
Though not part of the league’s cream of the crop in terms of scoring, Soyud is still near the top of the list at No. 19 in the league’s latest stats page update, very near respected names like Jovelyn Gonzaga (No. 16) and former MVP Bernadeth Pons (No. 17).
If anything, the inclusion of her name in the Alas wishlist and the doubters who made noise along with it only serves as further fuel for Soyud to push even harder in the round robin semifinals and perhaps beyond, as Akari continues to search for its first PVL championship.
“I’m surprised I’m even on the list. No one expected me to be there,” she said. “This is great motivation for me and my team. We’re already here [in the semifinals] so we will grab the opportunity and give our all while we are still here.”
Soyud and Akari will next square off with defending champion Creamline in the ultimate litmus test of the conference on Tuesday, April 1, at the PhilSports Arena, before taking on another league giant in Petro Gazz on Thursday, April 3, at the Araneta Coliseum to wrap up the round-robin semifinals. – Rappler.com