By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alas Pilipinas put up a gallant stand against a more experienced Vietnam crew before yielding 25-14, 25-22, 25-21, to get knocked out in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Friday night, July 5.
The Filipina spikers threatened in the last two sets by challenging Vietnam’s hard-hitting offense anchored on Nguyen Thi Buc Tuyen but still came up short in grabbing the upperhand to kiss their bid goodbye in advancing to the semifinals.
Tuyen erupted for 30 points built on 27 kills and three blocks for the Vietnamese, whose victory arranged them a semifinal meeting with the Czech Republic.
The Czechs earlier clipped Argentina, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, behind the combined efforts of skipper Michaela Mlejnkova, Gabriela Orvosova and Helena Havelkova, who conspired for 36 points.
The other semis pairing pit Belgium and Puerto Rico, who downed their respective opponents Kenya and Sweden the other day.
Alas trailed midway the third set until Sisi Rondina, Angel Cnino and Vanie Gandler torched the net with their hard-hitting kills to tie the game at 20-all.
But Tuyen was there to the rescue, scoring the next four points to send Vietnam at setpoint, 24-20.
Gandler tried to breathe Alas’ hopes alive with a quick kill, but Rondina’s attack sailed long to hand Vietnam the victory.
Still, skipper Jia De Guzman lauded her teammates for putting up a fight against a squad that won the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup last May.
“I’m proud of my team. Binigay talaga namin lahat. We’re still hopeful after this — that we can keep on trying to get better individually and as a team,” she said.
Rondina and Canino starred for the Nationals with 15 and 12 points, while Fifi Sharma showed flashes of brilliance and finished with six points.
Hoang Thi Keiu Trinh and Nguyen Thi Trinh combined for 15 points for Vietnam, while its team captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy briefly saw action but contributed two points.
