MANAMA, Bahrain – Alas Pilipinas U18 continues to make heads turn in the 3rd Asian Youth Games after bringing down China at the start of the classification phase for quarterfinals placing.
The Filipinas swept the Chinese, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20, to even their record in Pool F at 1-1 in the second round of preliminaries at the Isa Sports City here.
Alas ended up being grouped with Thailand along with China and Hong Kong in Pool F, the result of its first round loss to the Thais, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14 taken into account for the next round.
The Philippines and Thailand were previously together in Pool D, along with South Korea, which Alas U18 edged out in a grueling five-set win, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10, allowing them to advance to the second round.
Alas morale booster
Although already confident the Filipinas can compete with the Chinese, outside spiker Harlyn Serneche said it was actually the win over the Koreans that made them believe.
“After ng win namin sa Korea nagkaroon kami ng confidence,” said the team captain of NU-Nazareth School.
Alas U18 will face Hong Kong on Friday, and in Serneche's view, could finish in the Top 2 going to the quarterfinals where they could face either Iran or Indonesia from Pool E.
Serneche, along with Lady Bullpups teammates who won UAAP Season 87 and the Palarong Pambansa gold medal comprise majority of the Philippine team along with Ysabella Cruz, Rihanna Cris Navarro, and Atasha Anne Doroia, together with new recruit Sam Cantada, who was adjudged UAAP MVP while still with Adamson.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
