WHERE is Sabina Altynbekova?
Spin.ph has been receiving queries on its social media accounts about the popular 18-year-old volleyball player and why she isn't part of the Kazakhstan team seeing action in the Asian Under-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Interestingly, even local organizers admit they've been bombarded with the questions about the whereabouts of the gorgeous teen with the Barbie-like charms known by one name, Sabina, among her growing number of fans.
“Kahit sa akin nagtatanong, nasaan si Sabina,” said one official.
Sabina became a hit online during the Asian Under-19 Championship last year in Taiwan when she became the darling of the local media even if she was not the star player of the Kazakhstan squad.
So how come she's not with the team in Manila.
One tournament official bared that if not for an illness suffered days before the competition, Sabina would have been part of the Kazakhstan team and wuld've surely taken the Philippines by storm.
Quoting a team official of the Kazakhstan squad, an organizer said Sabina was supposed to fly to the Philippines and play in the Asian Under-23 meet but suffered from tonsillitis two days before the team's departure.
“Nagkaroon daw siya ng tonsillitis two days before nila umalis papunta dito,” said the official.
It is highly doubtful if the Kazakhs would have beaten host Philippines or won a game in the tournament had Sabina been around, but the team would've been among the most popular if she made the trip.
[See PH Under-23 team overcomes late drama to beat Kazakhstan, reach quarters]
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