Jia De Guzman’s connection to newcomers Sisi Rondina and Angel Canino made wonders right away.
With the trio’s heroics along with a band of heroes, Alas Pilipinas emerged triumphant in its debut in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women.
The team trounced Australia in four sets, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21, on Thursday evening in front of a roaring crowd of 4,945 fans inside the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
The Philippines currently ranks second in Pool A at 1-0, just behind 2-0 India, which Alas will face tomorrow at 7:00 PM.
Already ahead 17-9 in the fourth set, the Philippines encountered some anxious moments as Australia racked up five straight points to inch within three, 14-17.
However, Alas responded through the crucial contributions of Canino and Eya Laure to rebuild a 21-15 lead.
Still, they also shot themselves on the foot the next plays, committing three straight errors to allow the Volleyroos to pull within three anew, 18-21.
But the Philippines showed maturity and composure when faced with adversities. Laure and Fifi Sharma delivered the finishing blows for the splendid opening game victory in one hour and 59 minutes capped by Rondina’s crosscourt kill.
“Everybody in this gym, also the opponents know that she’s the best setter. She’s one of the best setters we have. She already played outside the country and she’s been leading one team, winning and winning for years, so she has this capacity to lead some young guys,” said Alas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito on De Guzman’s brilliance.
“Of course, the guys receive for her, the guys block for her, so it’s quite easy to play with her because she has the skills. The guys helped, so we played as a team,” he added.
It was Alas who came out in front late in the opening set with a 21-18 lead. But five errors along with hits from Caitlin Tipping and Emma Burton turned the frame around for the Volleyroos, 25-22.
In the first set alone, the Nationals committed 10 errors before limiting those in the ensuing stanzas. They also found their groove in the blocking and service departments paved the way for the win.
Vanie Gandler came off the bench as a service specialist to Thea Gagate halfway through the second – and she was just the spark the Philippines needed.
She entered at 15-14 and hit consistent serves as Alas made four straight points for a 19-14 cushion. That led to the 25-19 equalizer capped by Thea Gagate’s mishit that dropped in the middle of the Australians’ defense.
Canino, Rondina, and Laure then came to work in the third as the Philippines just took advantage of Australia while their coach Russell Borgeaud began to shuffle his players for a 2-1 set lead for Alas, 25-16.
Canino had 17 points in her senior national team debut on 15 attacks, a block, and an ace. Meanwhile, Rondina got 16 points on 15 spikes and one ace in her indoor national team debut.
Laure also tallied 17 points on 14-of-28 attacks, two aces, and a block to her name.
Gagate delivered a team-high four blocks to finish with 11 points while Sharma had seven points as well.
De Guzman facilitated Alas’ offense the whole game while also getting six points including a game-high three service aces.
Although edged out in the blocking department (7-12), the Philippines’ advantages in the spiking (59-37) and service (9-2) categories were more than enough.
On the other hand, for Australia, middle blocker Kara Inskip was the lone player in double digits with 12 points on six attacks and six blocks.
Tipping had nine, while Burton got eight points in the losing cause too.
Cassie Dodd, who had 10 blocks against Chinese Taipei yesterday, was held to just two blocks and four attacks for six points.
