Volleybelles, high on China stunner, keep faith intact
RIFFA, BAHRAIN—The girls of Alas Pilipinas are playing far beyond their years.
Already assured of a spot in the quarterfinals, the young national squad continued to turn heads at the Asian Youth Games and believed they could make waves in a sea of the finest young athletes in the continent after pulling off a stunner by sweeping regional powerhouse China, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 late Thursday.
“As long as we keep that strong connection in and out of the court, we can fight for our chances,” said Denesse Daylisan, one of the veterans on this youthful squad. And if team chemistry is any measure, the Filipinos are shaping up as serious contenders.
They opened the tournament with a gutsy five-set win over South Korea and bounced back from a straight-sets loss to Thailand with late Thursday’s demolition of China—proof, Daylisan insists, that their rise is no fluke.
“We’re not merely lucky,” she said. “We worked hard [for our success], that’s why we have good [performances].”
Alas Pilipinas was battling Hong Kong on Friday in their final group game, but with two wins already secured, the focus has shifted to sharpening the team’s rhythm heading into the Round of Eight.
“We’ll keep polishing our movement,” Daylisan added. “We can really compete internationally.”
Rhose Almendralejo exploded for 23 points against China, nine of them coming in a fiery first set that caught the Chinese flat-footed. Sam Cantada and flag bearer Harlyn Serneche added 10 points each, while Daylisan and fellow standouts Diza Marie Berayo, Jaila Adrao, Micaella Gould, Ysabella Patricia Cruz and Atasha Doroja kept the pressure high.
