STA. ROSA, Laguna — Alas Pilipinas' Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda are through to the Round of 16 thanks to a quick 21-18, 21-16 sweep of Japan's Motomura sisters Kana and Nayu at the 2024 Asian Beach Volleyball Championships on Friday in Nuvali.
This will be Eslapor's second trip to the Round of 16 in three years — the same phase where she and Creamline's Dij Rodriguez bowed out in last year's continental meet.
It'll be the first playoff appearance for the debuting Orillaneda in a bid to pull off what could be the tournament's biggest upset yet.
Standing in their way to Philippine beach volleyball history is former Olympic bronze medalist and reigning tournament champion Xia Xinyi of China with a new partner in Wang Jingzhe.
Philippine progress in beach volleyball
The other half of Alas Women's playoff contigent in Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara will play another Chinese side in Xue Chen and Zeng Jinjin in the Round of 16 at 2 p.m.
The women's pairs broke through to the playoffs this year, as no Philippine team made it out of pool play in the previous edition of the 32-team tournament.
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.
