OFWs give PH girls morale boost in Jordan
AMMAN, JORDAN—As the Alas Pilipinas team came out of the locker room to warm up for its clash against defending champion Japan, an unexpected sight greeted them on Saturday in the second AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship.
In the stands of Princess Sumaya Hall, a group of Filipinos proudly waved Philippine flags and cheered for the national high school players from different provinces, who are competing internationally for the first time.
“We didn’t really expect it because we only saw a few interactions on social media [about our tournament],” team captain Xyz Rayco told the Inquirer in Filipino. “But when we got there, there were so many people.
“We were so excited to see them watching and cheering. It really made us proud.”
Inspired by the Filipino crowd, Rayco and Nadeth Herbon delivered nine points each, as Alas put up a gallant stand, highlighted by a strong second-set win, before yielding a 17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25 result in Pool B.
The Alas supporters were overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Jordan, who flocked to the venue after the Philippine Embassy announced that the national youth team was competing here.
Siola Might Acedo, who has worked here for the last 14 years—just around the same time when some of the Alas players were born—was simply happy getting a slight taste of home.
“I support Team Philippines because I’m a fan of our volleyball players. I also play volleyball here in Jordan,” Acedo, who works as a nanny for a Dutch family in Amman, told the Inquirer in Filipino. “And I know that it really means a lot for them to see us supporting them as their kababayans.
“Every Filipino here in Jordan dreams of seeing Filipinos represent the country in international leagues,” added Acedo.
