By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alas Pilipinas faces an acid test on Friday, July 5, when it squares off against Southeast Asian rival Vietnam in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Match is at 6:30 p.m. with the Filipina spikers leaving no stone unturned in their desire to beat the Vietnamese in the eight-team knockout tournament.
A victory for Alas would earn them an automatic spot in the semifinals with four teams already battling out at press time.
Puerto Rico and Kenya are locking horns for one of the four spots, as well as Sweden and Belgium in the other opening-day pairing.
The Nationals are banking on their morale-boosting bronze-medal finish at the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup late last May, with additional reinforcements like Jema Galanza and Bella Belen conspiring with veteran setter Jia De Guzman, Sisi Rondina and Dawn Macandili.
Also out to make heads turn for the Filipina spikers are Faith Nisperos, Fifi Sharma, Vannie Gandler, Julia Coronel, Angel Canino, Dell Palomata, Arah Panique and Thea Gagate.
But pulling off an upset win against a heavily-favored Vietnamese crew is easier said than done as their rivals are spearheaded by hard-hitting Tran Thi Thanh Thuy.
The Vietnamese are also coming off a gold-medal victory in the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup after sweeping Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Czech Republic and Argentina clash at 3 p.m. in the tournament that offers a slot to the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.
