Young setter Eco Adajar has quickly established his place within Alas Pilipinas.
For the longest time, setters Eco Adajar and Owa Retamar have always met on opposite sides of the court — from their high school days in Laguna, to their eventual move to the UAAP with La Salle and National University, respectively.
Fast forward to today, and the two playmakers are now teammates on Alas Pilipinas, and are both in the running for a roster spot in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship. For Adajar, it’s a culmination of their journey that dates back to their time with Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna and University of Perpetual Help-Biñan in high school.
“Si Owa ‘yun eh! Since si Owa naman, high school pa lang nagkakalaban na kami and ngayon lang kami nagka-team, so ‘yun naman, nakakaroon naman kami ng different learnings from each other kaya maganda naman ‘yung kinalalabasan ng performance namin every game,” Adajar said.
Retamar has been part of the national team since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, and was once the youngest player in their historic silver medal finish. Adajar, meanwhile, only made his debut in the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals last June, shortly after his final year in the UAAP.
Adajar last played for Alas in the 2025 SEA V.League, and he credits Retamar’s veteran experience as an important part of his growth within Angiolino Frigoni’s program.
“Super dami talagang natutunan kay Owa kasi syempre, since 2019 pa siya nagna-national team, and super madami talaga siyang experience dito. With that, madami talaga ‘yung nabibigay sa akin as a rookie member dito sa national team,” Adajar said.
Adajar also credited his UAAP background as a key factor in his national team inclusion, as it provided him with the necessary exposure for national team coaches to notice his immense potential to thrive in international play.
Now that he’s been included in Frigoni’s core, Adajar is just grateful to be considered for the World Championships, as it is already a major show of validation toward his upside as a national team setter.
“Sobrang bilis talaga! Parang ilang months lang na nagtitraining ako or ilang weeks lang ‘yun, na-consider na ako ni Coach Angiolino na mapasama sa national team. Super thankful ako sa kanila kasi malaki ‘yung tiwala nila sa akin and nakitaan nila ako ng potential to compete in the international stage,” Adajar reflected.
Whether he gets a roster spot or not, Adajar knows that being part of the 21-man pool is already a major achievement itself.
“Kahit ‘di pa nalabas ‘yung Final 14, super thankful na ako kasi parte ako ng WCH lineup, and na-experience ko rin ‘yung training camp abroad, so super grateful sa experience na ‘yun, kasi marami akong natutunan from the coaches and other camps.”
Banner images from the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Facebook.