Angel Canino credits teammates in impressive debut for Alas Pilipinas

Angel Canino impressed in her debut for Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Canino had 17 points from 15 attacks, a block, and an ace to be among the team's scoring leaders, and she did this in her first game in a new position from being an outside hitter to being an opposite.

"I'm very happy lang kasi siyempre, I'm not expecting really sa self ko and hindi ko naman po magagawa lahat nang 'to kung wala po 'yung teammates ko so credits din sa mga teammates ko po and credits din sa mga coaches kasi they guide me talaga inside and outside the court. Sobrang thankful ako sa kanila kasi nandiyan sila para sa'kin," she said about her transition of position.

(I'm very happy because I'm not really expecting myself and I cannot do it without my teammates so credits to them as well. Credits to the coaches because they guide me also inside and outside the court. I'm thankful because they are there for me.)

The former UAAP Most Valuable Player also said it was her teammates who delivered the win and not her alone.

"I think hindi naman ako 'yung big reason. The big reason talaga kaya nakuha namin 'yung win na 'to is teamwork. Kasi given maikli lang 'yung time, 'yung preparation namin, pero nagawa namin 'to," she said.

(I think I'm not the big reason. The big reason that we got this win is teamwork. Given that we had a short preparation team, but we made this.)

However, aside from the win, the De La Salle University standout is also happy that her dream of being a part of the national team is being fulfilled.

"Sobrang nakakatuwa po as in parang pagpasok ko dito [sa court] grabe, grabe talaga, puno talaga to na mga Pilipino, tapos parang nakikita ko sila na nage-effort din na sumisigaw, sumusuporta so grabe, sobrang overwhelming ng feeling tapos sobrang happy ko syempre, we're all Filipinos here and we're here to support each other," she added.

(I'm really happy once I enter the court because it's full of Filipinos, then they are shouting. It's an overwhelming feeling because we're all Filipinos here and we're here to support each other.)

Alas Pilipinas will face India next on Friday.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News