ISA TOWN, Bahrain – Alas Pilipinas' Under-18 team turned back a gritty Chinese Taipei side to clinch a semifinal berth in the 3rd Asian Youth Games late Sunday night.
The girls’ U18 team pulled off a 25-15, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18 victory over the Taiwanese in their quarterfinal showdown watched by a huge crowd at Hall B of the Isa Sports City Stadium.
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Rihanna Chris Navarro clinched match point for Alas, which completed the job in almost two hours for a berth in the semis right inits indoor volleyball’s debut in the quadrennial showcase.
“Masaya po kasi nagawa namin yung panalo,” said Navarro following the victory. “Pinag-trabahuhan po talaga naming ito kasi knockout na yung laro namin.”
Backstopped by the core of UAAP Season 87 champion NU Lady Bullpups, the Filipinas though will have little time to savor the moment as they face undefeated and Pool E top notcher Iran in the semifinals set Monday at the same venue.
The Iranians cruised past Hong Kong in their own quarterfinal clash, 25-14, 25-13, 25-18.
The other semifinal pairing features a Thailand and Southeast Asian rival Indonesia.
The Thais, the other unbeaten team outside of Iran, made short work of Qatar, 25-5, 25-5, 25-8, while the Indonesians were just as dominant against China, 25-21, 25-18, 25-20.
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