THE PHILIPPINES rebounded emphatically from an opening-day setback, cutting to size a taller Kazakhstan side, 25-19, 25-11, 28-26, Saturday to clinch a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Under-23 Women’s Championship at Philsports Arena.
Unleashing their power game early, the Filipinos coasted in the first two sets before keeping their poise late in the third set to nail their first victory in Pool A.
A possible duel with Asian powerhouse Japan looms for the Filipinos on Monday if Iran beats Kazakhstan today and the Japanese also sweep Pool C. If the Filipinos end up on top of Pool A, they may face Chinese-Taipei in the next round.
Prevailing over a Kazakhstan side whose average height was six feet was already a remarkable feat for a PH Team formed just three weeks ago.
“The players showed they had the bigger heart,” Philippines coach Roger Gorayeb said in Filipino. “We played like we had nothing to lose. We only trained for three weeks and they also had the height advantage.”
Backed by a 4,000-strong crowd, the Filipinos kept the Kazakhs guessing with their power game as Alyssa Valdez once again spearheaded the charge with 19 points, including 16 off hits.
Libero Christine Agno also sparkled, anchoring a floor defense that yielded just 34 attack points, but Gorayeb unveiled a surprise by starting Myla Pablo, who played sparingly against Iran. The National U standout responded with eight points, including a smash that put the Filipinos at match point, which Jaja Santiago converted with a quick attack.
Back-to-back aces by Valdez sparked an early surge that put the Filipinos on their way to victory in the first set. With the Kazakhs looking jittery, the Filipinos capitalized with a masterful second-set performance powered by Pablo who fired consecutive hits for a 13-4 advantage.
Errors, which doomed the Filipinos against Iran last Saturday, almost cost the hosts the third set as they squandered six match points, before Valdez, bucking pain in her right thumb, snapped the drought with a crucial hit that was followed by a Pablo attack.
Santiago added 12 points for the Philippines, which also had nine hits from Gretchel Soltones.