Alyssa Valdez and Co. advance to semis against powerhouse Thais

Philippine women’s volleyball team vs Singapore. –SMM VOLLEYBALL

A familiar foe responsible for a lot of bitter Philippine memories will be on the other side of the floor for the Filipino women’s volleyball team on Saturday.

Team Philippines, made up of its brightest, most glamorous professional stars, on Thursday scored a 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 victory over Singapore to clinch the second semifinal slot in Group B and set the stage up for a clash with powerhouse Thailand in a match where the Filipinos hope to write a different ending.

Alyssa Valdez played for the first time, converted on a kill for the first time in six months and could be a valuable asset when the Philippines battles Thailand for a place in the title game.

This will be the first time that the country has advanced to the crossover Final Four since 2017, when it also lost to Thailand in straight sets.

Alyssa Valdez suits up for the Philippines against Singapore in the SEA Games 2023 women’s volleyball competition.

Coming off a knee injury that kept her out of Premier Volleyball League action for Creamline a couple of months back, Valdez was broken in by coach Jorge Souza de Brito, obviously seeing the former Ateneo star as a vital weapon against the Thais.

The Philippines finished with a 2-1 record in Pool B after bouncing back from a 20-25, 17-25, 19-25 loss to Vietnam as Kat Tolentino and Tots Carlos led the balanced attack with 11 points each.

Jema Galanza provided the spark from the bench as she scored six of her 10 points in the second set, while Mylene Paat set the pace for the Filipinos in the lopsided match by scoring a chunk of her nine points in the first set.

Vietnam, eyeing to sweep Group B against the winless Cambodia at press time, will face Indonesia in the other semis matchup.