2 weeks Ago
Two days after her name was included in Alas Pilipinas' 33-woman wishlist, Eli Soyud just proved why — and she did it the best way possible. The veteran opposite spiker erupted for a monster 34-point outing built on 27 attacks and seven blocks to help Akari turn back Choco Mucho in five grueling sets, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14. Soyud later admitted that the news of her prospective national team call-up gave her extra motivation against the Flying Titans.
"Oo kasi nagulat ako na nando’n ako sa wishlist and no one expected na nando’n ako so for me, isa siyang malaking motivation sa akin," Soyud said. "Sabi nga, nandito na kami so iga-grab na namin ‘yung opportunity at ibibigay na lahat habang nandito pa kami." Soyud's breakout performance put Akari in a good position to book one of the two finals spots, which will be given to the top two teams at the end of the round robin semifinals.
But the former Adamson University star said she did not get the job alone, sharing the credit to her teammates who put up a huge fight as well in the five-set marathon. "Kung hindi kami lalaban, wala talagang mangyayari sa amin so kami, ibigay na lang lahat para walang magkakaro’n ng parang paghihinayang so ayun, buti naman nagbubunga naman," she added. While she could be ending up wearing the national colors, Soyud stressed her focus for now remains in their ongoing PVL campaign as the Chargers look to make the finals anew.
They made their inaugural finals debut last year when they reached the championship round in the last Reinforced Conference. "Isang malaking achievement na mapunta doon sa wishlist kasi syempre hindi rin naman basta-basta ‘yung mga nando’n. So parang nakakagulat din, lalo na ako.
Pero ayun nga, isa siyang motivation para may mapatunayan kami sa sarili namin na deserving kami," she said. "[Pero] ‘yung focus ko talaga ngayon ay PVL." —JKC, GMA Integrated News.
