Not easy as AVC

Alas Pilipinas reached the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup final for the first time. Playing in an unfamiliar position against powerhouse Vietnam, the Filipinas lost in straight sets. But silver is still the best finish ever for the country in more than six decades.

While they improved from their bronze last year, the Filipinas could neither neutralize the strength of Vietnam nor solve its puzzle, without reference to the powerful and towering N.T.B. Tuyen who is now a target of cruel gender speculation. Only because she looks like a man in a politically incorrect stereotypical perspective.

She does not need to grow her hair longer to look the part. It’s her art. A woman is a woman regardless of her appearance. Gender is dictated by nature, and sometimes chosen by those who identify differently from their birth assignment. Otherwise known as gender identity. Appearance is dictated by society, and sometimes by personal style, still largely based on societal norms and expectation. Otherwise known as gender expression.

But despite their relative success here and there, the Filipino volleybelles are yet to return to the podium in the Southeast Asian Games for about two decades now. It used to dominate the regionals in the 80s. They last won gold in 1993 and last medaled in 2005 as Thailand won gold after gold after gold. In the region, women’s volleyball is to Thailand and men’s basketball is to the Philippines.

Before the Filipinas could win volleyball gold in SEA Games, they need to beat world class Thais and the Vietnamese that in turn, could not solve the mystery and mastery of Thailand, the country peopled with probably the most polite in the world.

See, being polite and respectful should not be confused with being weak. Some of the most revered world leaders are soft spoken but strong willed who mastered the art of subtlety and tranquility. While some feared leaders instill fear but not install growth. The country’s history does not lack for a scarecrow.

Although their appearance in the AVC finals shows rapid growth of Philippine volleyball, the tall Filipinas still fell short. Not even close. They failed to breach the psychological 20-point mark in any set. The highest was 17 points in the second frame, only to go lower with 14 in the third and final shame.

Thailand and Vietnam are virtually locked in a duopoly for gold in the region. The Philippines and Indonesia for bronze. Returning to the podium in the regionals remains a long shot. So much work to be done, so many more talent to be pooled. But there is a first time, after a long time. We had it the last time, there could be the next time. Remember how Gilas Pilipinas stunned China in the Asiad.