Xyz Rayco showed no signs of rookie jitters when she stepped onto the court at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center for three-time defending champion National University-Nazareth School on Thursday.

The outside hitter made an immediate impact, scoring three service aces during a lengthy stint at the line, including back-to-back points that erased NU-Nazareth’s early 0–2 deficit against Adamson University.

Rayco eventually finished with 20 points on 14 kills, two blocks, and four service aces to earn Player of the Match honors.

Not bad for someone who admitted to feeling nervous at the start.

“First time ko po and dream ko po talaga ‘tong UAAP. Andoon ‘yung kaba po, andoon po talaga ‘yung pressure. Pero andiyan naman po ‘yung teammates ko, ibigay daw po namin sa kanila ‘yung pressure,” she said.

It helped that the wing spiker eased into the match with a strong start at the service line. Rayco said gaining confidence from her first few serves allowed her to settle down.

“Malaking tulong po sa ‘kin kasi wala po akong kumpiyansa sa service ko. Pero nagawan ko ng paraan at naipakita ko na puwede siyang mag-ace, at nalakasan ko ‘yung look ko.”

Perhaps the biggest source of both pressure and confidence for the young upstart is her wealth of international experience. Rayco previously suited up for the Alas Girls in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Under-16 Championships, where she served as captain, as well as the FIVB World Under-17 Championships.

(C) AVC

Rayco, however, believes she can draw more positives from those experiences as she begins her UAAP journey.

“Siyempre, malaking tulong na po siya sa ‘kin at sa team po. Although malalakas po talaga ‘yung mga teams do’n, natutunan ko po talaga i-handle ‘yung pressure sa sarili ko lang po. At nadala ko naman siya sa UAAP game ko po,” the pride of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte shared.

Rayco also took pride in what the two Alas Girls squads accomplished, with their fifth-place finish in the continental U-16 tournament earning them a ticket to Chile for the Worlds.

There, the U-17 side pulled out all the stops to finish 15th in the world.

“Malaking bagay po talaga na nag-top 15 kami. Hindi po biro ‘yung mga nangyari sa ‘min do’n, mga challenges po na dumating sa ‘min. Although malalakas po talaga ang kalaban, nagawan po namin ng paraan,” she shared.

“Iniisa-isa po namin ang bawat team, kung ano ang dapat pagtrabahuhan. Andoon naman ‘yung coaches para i-guide kami ‘kung papaano gumalaw.”

Once a girl who could only dream of playing in the UAAP and on the sport’s biggest stages, Rayco can now say that she has made it.

And she hopes other young players like her can experience the same opportunity.

“Mag-start din po ‘yan sa mga liga-liga dito sa Manila at sa mga national. Kasi marami pong bata na malalakas talaga na puwedeng mabigyan ng opportunity na makalaro sa international,” she said.

“Siguro patuloy lang po ‘yung program and ‘yung suporta; sana suportahan ‘yung mga bata po na gusto nilang ma-prove na gusto nila maglaro sa international and kaya nila.”

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Alas Pilipinas Women head coach Taka Minowa believes the national team’s silver-medal finish in the 2026 SEA V Cup was the product of a much bigger effort than just the players and coaches who were part of the campaign.

In a message posted on Facebook following the tournament, Minowa credited the countless players, coaches, and clubs that have helped Philippine volleyball become more competitive through the years.

“I believe this moment is not only about the players who are with us in the national team pool,” Minowa said after his debut stint with the national team.

“It is the result of the hard work of so many players, coaches, and clubs who have continued to develop and make Philippine volleyball more competitive over the years.”

Minowa, who previously handled Nxled and Akari in the Premier Volleyball League, was appointed as Alas Pilipinas head coach last June as the national team began preparations for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later this year.

He pointed to the different levels of the sport — from grassroots programs and schools to collegiate competitions, local clubs, and professional teams — as crucial to the national team’s progress.

“From grassroots to school, collegiate, local clubs, and professional teams, every player and every coach has contributed something to Philippine volleyball,” said Minowa.

The Japanese coach also emphasized that the current generation of Alas Pilipinas players is standing on a foundation built by those who came before them, while recognizing the contributions of players who remain part of the national team pool even if they did not see action in the SEA V Cup.

“The players who are representing the country today are standing on the foundation that so many people have built before them,” Minowa said.

“And even the players who are currently in the pool but may not be on the court today have also worked hard and contributed to this journey.”

Alas Women finished as runners-up in the second leg of the SEA V Cup after taking down Indonesia, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31, in the virtual battle for silver last Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium.

“I hope everyone can be proud of the players and coaches who gave their time, effort, and heart to this team,” Minowa said.

“This achievement is the result of everyone’s hard work, and I’m very grateful to be part of this journey with all of you.”

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Eya Laure and Alyssa Solomon were named to the 2026 SEA V Cup Dream Team after standout performances helped Alas Pilipinas secure a historic silver medal in the tournament’s second leg on Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium.

The recognition marked Solomon’s second consecutive Best Opposite Spiker citation and fourth overall, after she earned the same award in the opening leg in Vietnam. Laure, meanwhile, secured her first Best Outside Hitter honor in the regional tournament.

Laure finished as the tournament’s third-leading scorer with 44 points, just one behind Vietnam’s Tran Thị Thanh Thuy and Pham Quynh Huong, who shared the top spot with 45 points apiece.

The Choco Mucho star bounced back from a slow start to the second leg, having scored just five points in the loss to Thailand before erupting for 22 against Vietnam. She then added 17 more points in the silver medal-clinching victory over Indonesia.

Solomon, on the other hand, ranked fourth in scoring with 42 points. The former National University standout was held to just six points against eventual champions Thailand but quickly found her rhythm. She ended up scoring 17 against Vietnam before finishing with 19 points against Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Thai star Sasipapron Janthawisut continued her stellar run in the tournament, claiming her second straight Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter awards.

She was joined by teammates Pornpun Guedpard, who earned the Best Setter plum, and Thatdao Nuekjang, who took one of the Best Middle Blocker spots, in the Dream Team.

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Bich Thuy claimed the other Best Middle Blocker citation, while Indonesia’s Indah Guretno was named Best Libero.

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