EAGER to create more history for Philippine volleyball and climb the ladder of success, Alas Pilipinas eyes a spot in the title match when it tangles with Kazakhstan today in the knockout semifinals of the AVC Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Expected to be backed by the home crowd and on a high from four straight victories so far, the home team seeks to upset Kazakhstan in the 7 p.m. main event of a quadruple-header.
Clashing in the other semis match at 4 p.m. are defending champions Vietnam and Australia, one of the victims of the Philippines in Pool A.
The Vietnamese, currently ranked No. 38 in the world, swept Pool B preliminaries while Australia placed second in Pool A with a 3-1 mark.
The Philippines’ stint in the semifinals marks a new saga for the nationals, who are making their first playoff appearance in an AVC tournament in 63 years.
The Jorge Souza de Brito-mentored team flaunted its prowess in the preliminaries by sweeping Pool A wit a 4-0 slate while Kazakhstan finished second in Pool B with a 3-1 card.
The Philippines rose to 55th in the FIVB World rankings after humbling Chinese Taipei 25-13, 25-21, 25-18 two days ago.
“Wow, tough game,” Souza de Brito said of the match against the World No. 33 Kazakhs. “It will be a tough game. All of us, we have [to handle] the challenge because [we] start from zero now. It is one win, and another one, okay. It is 50-50, we are home but they have [formed] the team for a long time now. Let us play with heart.”
The Brazilian tactician, proud of the triumphs and achievements so far of Alas, aims to bag a medal for the Philippines in the one-week tourney.
“We go for any medal, but we also go for the gold. I am very proud of them, and I am so happy to be part of this right now,” he said.
“We have already strategized against Kazakhstan. Since yesterday (last Saturday), we [have] already put up [on] what should we do. The guys are already aware of that, now we just have to put into action.”
Skipper Jia De Guzman along with Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina, Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma and Dawn Macandili-Catindig are anticipated to go all-out to raise the flag higher in the 10-nation competition.
