SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas on the AVC Challenge Cup 2024
Alas Pilipinas’ Fifi Sharma and Eya Laure have fun a degree during their game against Australia in thw AVC Challenge Cup 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines — After a powerful start in front of an electrical crowd, Fifi Sharma hopes Alas Pilipinas sustains its momentum because it battles unbeaten India in an important Pool A match within the AVC Challenge Cup on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Sharma had an honest national team debut with seven points to assist Alas overcome the taller Australia, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21, on Thursday evening.
“It is a very big factor to the team because this win is vital, on condition that plenty of people supported us today. They were an element why we won,” said Sharma, who manned the frontline with former La Salle teammate Thea Gagate.
READ: AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas looks to bank on ‘weapons’ vs India
The Akari middle blocker, who drilled emphatic quick attacks off Jia De Guzman’s sets and formed a solid net defense with Gagate, got her moment when nearly all of the 4,945 fans serenaded her with “Fifi! Fifi! Fifi!” chants.
“I used to be super touched. It was so surreal hearing a whole bunch of individuals chant your name, oh my gosh [I’m giddy],” said Sharma.
Fifi Sharma after her Alas Pilipinas debut. #AVCChallengeCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tMQSvIq8vK
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 23, 2024
Certainly one of her biggest supporters is her father and former PBA player Carlo Sharma, who expressed his support to his daughter on Akari Sports’ social media pages.
READ: AVC Cup: Jia De Guzman’s leadership brings Alas Pilipinas together
“I’m extremely happy with Fifi and her accomplishments recently. Being a part of the national team is an important honor, playing at the best level representing our country,” said Carlo. “Our family is behind Fifi and the team [in] every step of the way in which. All one of the best Team Pilipinas!”
Receiving great fan support on her national team debut, Sharma was relieved that they were in a position to get better from the first-set loss by sticking to educate Jorge Souza De Brito’s system.
“It was a wake-up call for us that we’ve got to be more disciplined with our system, regardless that we only had limited preparation. So long as everyone seems to be determined to work hard and as one, we will get the remaining sets [And we did it],” she said.
Sharma was surprised along with her decent performance, which can encourage her of their remaining Pool A games, where only the highest two will advance to the crossover knockout semifinals next week.
“I feel like we were just all excited to point out what we will do and I didn’t expect that this will probably be the lead to this game, given the short preparation. But I’m completely happy, the team achieved this win today,” she said.
