By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team’s gallant stand was not enough as they bowed to the taller and experienced Kazakhstan, 25-23, 25-21, 25-14 in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday night, May 28.
Arah Panique, a late addition to head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito’s 14-player roster, stepped up offensively for the national squad with 14 points, but failed to get enough support from her teammates as they saw their title hopes fade.
“Siguro po ipinakita ko lang po kung ano ‘yung kaya ko. Lagi akong sinasabihan ng teammates ko na magtiwala lang sa sarili and sa mga kasama ko sa court,” the Bacolod City-native Panique said.
“Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa coaches na nagtiwala at ipinasok ako sa laro. Always ready lang po ako,” she said.
“Sobrang lakas ng loob lang din na tuwing pinapasok ako, ipinapakita ko lang kung ano ‘yung kaya ko,” she added.
After being down 12-22 in the opening set, Alas Pilipinas went on a 10-1 run behind Mereophe Sharma and Panique to cut the deficit to 22-23.
However, Kazakhstan responded with two timely hits to secure the tight win.
Both teams engaged in a tight battle in the second set, with Kazakhstan clinging to an 11-10 lead before pulling away at 17-12.
Alas Pilipinas rallied to within 19-22 before Kazakhstan went on a finishing run for a 2-0 set edge.
Team Philippines and Kazakhstan traded leads in the third frame, with the home team just behind 11-12, but the latter went on a huge finishing run to set up a championship clash with defending champion Vietnam.
“What I liked about our team, they never give up in any moment. Also, we played most of the time in the same level with them. These guys are on their way to be much better than this one. It’s a promise that they did to themselves,” De Brito said.
On the other hand, Alas Pilipinas will try to salvage a bronze medal finish in the competition as they face Australia, which lost to Vietnam in straight sets in the other semis game./ASC, WDJ