Alas Pilipinas celebrates towards Iran within the AVC Problem Cup 2024.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas booked its first-ever ticket to the AVC Problem Cup semifinals after sweeping Iran, 25-16, 25-13, 25-15, to remain unbeaten in Pool A on a wet Saturday night, which didn’t cease the electrical dwelling crowd from a wild celebration at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Philippines might be coming into the semis of the third version of the match, surpassing its earlier seventh-place end final 12 months.
The house staff tries to comb Pool A towards the also-ran Chinese language Taipei (0-3) on Sunday at 7 p.m.
SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas on the AVC Problem Cup 2024
KEEP THE FAITH!
Religion Nisperos with the semis-clinching assault for Alas Pilipinas. #AVCChallengeCup @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/K67oKTdTXI
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 25, 2024
Setter captain Jia De Guzman continued to shine shiny in operating the performs of Alas, as Angel Canino sustained her positive kind with one other game-high 16 factors off 11 assaults, three aces, and two blocks
Sisi Rondina additionally delivered the products with 12 factors to turn into the primary Philippine staff —by any gender— to achieve the AVC competitors semifinals, in accordance with PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
“Naamaze ako sa mga teammates namin ngayon kasi ang bilis magadjust and parang pare-pareho lang kami talaga ng position, kung ano yung kailangan gawin, pinupunan. Lalong lalo na led by Ate Jia kaya ayun, grateful ako sakanila kasi sobrang napapadali yung trabaho namin,” mentioned Rondina after the win.
Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito fielded a brand new set of starters with Vanie Gandler, Cherry Nunag, and libero Jennifer Nierva however it didn’t cease them from dominating the Iranians.
“All these guys right here, they’re actually good. The query that we’ve got, day after day, is to make a schedule of the gamers that we are able to select for tomorrow,” mentioned De Brito after incomes his largest achievement as a Philippine nationwide staff coach. “These guys, they preserve their degree at all times. They’re actually good. I’m happy with them.”
Gandler had 9 factors, whereas center blockers Fifi Sharma and Nunag chipped in six and 4 factors, respectively.
Alas began to drag away within the second set with Canino and Rondina connecting to construct a 19-9 unfold and by no means regarded again till the latter nailed a large again row assault to finish a 12-point rout and a two-set lead.
READ: AVC Cup: Jia De Guzman savors taking part in earlier than dwelling followers
The Filipino Spikers carried their momentum within the third body, constructing a 20-10 lead after Rondina and Gandler’s back-to-back assaults. Dell Palomata even scored her first level of the match earlier than Religion Nisperos closed out the sport with back-to-back assaults — her first two of the Problem Cup.
After shedding the opening frames of their first two video games towards Australia and India, the host earned its first set win of the match with Nunag and Gandler tallying a 23-15 unfold after the latter nailing an ace en path to a dominant begin.
Iran fell to the brink of elimination with a 1-2 report, hoping to avoid wasting its marketing campaign in a vital sport towards Australia (2-1) on Sunday.
Aytak Salamatgharamaleki carried the Iranians with 10 factors, being the staff’s lone double-digit scorer.
