By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Alas Pilipinas national women’s volleyball team renewed their mastery over the Australia Volleroos with a victory to clinch the bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, May 29.
Team captain Julia Morado-de Guzman displayed her efficient ball distribution anew to earn the Player of the Game honors as Alas Pilipinas clinched their best-ever finish in the tournament.
“Actually, before the game, we told the girls that we already exceeded expectations. All that we have asked for the girls is to leave it all on the floor regardless of the result,” Morado-de Guzman said.
After trading leads early in the opening set, Alas Pilipinas jumped to an 18-11 lead on connections from Eya Laure and Thea Gagate.
Australia rallied to within 20-21, but Angel Canino stepped up to secure the set win for the Philippines.
Team Philippines trailed early in the second set at 6-7, but responded with connections from Laure and Canino to establish a 19-10 lead.
Australia threatened within 14-20, but Alas answered with a 5-1 run to close the set.
Alas Pilipinas were in cruise control in the third set as they jumped to a 17-7 lead following an attack by Cherry Rondina.
They went on to score eight more points to clinch a podium finish.
The Philippine squad settled for the bronze medal match after faltering to Kazakhstan in the semifinals match on Tuesday night, May 28, 25-23, 25-21, 25-14, for their lone loss in the week-long competition.
“First of all, we wanna give credit to Australia. They gave us a good fight from the first game until this bronze game. We really had to prepare our best for them, and thankfully it went our way naman,” Morado-de Guzman said.
“This is a collective effort. I cannot do it myself alone, everyone played their roles well. Every player on the court, on the bench, all of the coaching staff din, everyone is in sync talaga, so it made the job easier,” she added.
Meanwhile, Morado-de Guzman and Canino were later awarded as the tournament’s Best Setter and Best Opposite Spiker, respectively./ASC, WDJ