Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito was unsurprised by Dell Palomata’s standout performance in their tight four-set loss to Vietnam during the first leg of the 2024 Southeast Asian V-League.
The 6-foot-3 middle blocker from PLDT saw limited action during the Nationals’ campaigns in the AVC Challenge Cup and the FIVB Challenger Cup.
However, she stayed ready and excelled when inserted into the starting lineup for their opening game in the SEA V-League.
Palomata made a significant impact, finishing with 14 points, including nine attacks and a game-high five blocks, but Alas Pilipinas fell short against the host nation, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, in Vinh Phuc.
“We only had one game in the [FIVB Challenger Cup], so there wasn’t much time for changes. But she was always ready,” De Brito told Tiebreaker Times.
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De Brito credited Palomata’s performance to her hard work during their training camp in Japan, where she showcased her skills and proved her worth.
“What she did yesterday mirrors her performance in Japan and before,” he gushed.
The Brazilian head coach expressed satisfaction with the contributions of his middle blockers against a tall Vietnam side led by Challenge Cup MVP Nguyen Thi Bich Thuyen, Best Middle Blocker Le Thanh Thuy, and star Tran Thi Thanh Thuy.
Thea Gagate of ZUS Coffee added 12 points with seven attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Meanwhile, Akari’s Fifi Sharma – who was exceptional in the Nationals’ previous tournaments – did not see action against the Vietnamese.
“All the middle blockers are performing really well in training. It’s good for our national team.”
Alas Pilipinas aims to bounce back when they face Thailand later today.
