Alas Pilipinas stuns China, advances to AVC Beach Tour quarterfinals
Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara of Philippines against China during the Rebisco AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas pulled off a thrilling 22-20, 22-20 win over China to reach the quarterfinals of the Rebisco AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Friday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara ousted China’s top pair, Yan Xu and Zhou Mingli, at Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land. Despite four straight service errors in the closing moments, the young UST standouts regrouped and delivered the clutch plays needed to seal the win.
“We struggled with our serves at the end, but the heat was really tough,” said Progella.
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Progella, 19, and Pagara, 20, displayed solid defense, registering three block points. They led by four in the first set and had to rally from a four-point deficit in the second.
“They get emotional in tough moments, but they know how to bounce back,” said their Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Kiodai.
They face Australia’s Elizabeth Alchin and Georgia Johnson, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, for a spot in the semifinals.
In the men’s division, James Buytrago and Rancel Varga were in control against New Zealand’s John McManaway and James Sadlier before the brutal heat took its toll.
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After taking the opening set and staying close in the second, Buytrago suffered cramps, forcing a forfeit with the score at 33-35, 18-21, 6-13.
“The heat was too much. It’s part of the sport, but it’s tough to deal with,” Kiodai said.
Meanwhile, two other Alas Pilipinas women’s teams exited in the Round of 16.
Alexa Polidario and Lorien Gamboa fell to Japan’s Saki Maruyama and Miki Ishii, 21-12, 21-10. Sunnie Kalani Villapando and Jenny Gaviola also lost to Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, 6-21, 15-21.
Villapando, a former Stanford and USC player, is determined to bounce back.
“This isn’t the end. We’ll train harder and look forward to the Southeast Asian Games,” she said.
With a semifinal spot within reach, Progella and Pagara aim to keep the country’s hopes alive in the AVC Beach Tour.
