Angel Canino spreads wings anew as Alas Pilipinas halts India for 2-0 start in AVC Challenge Cup

Once Angel Canino flies, there's no stopping her.

Canino proved her 17-point outing yesterday was no fluke, fueling Alas Pilipinas to a 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 victory against erstwhile undefeated India to remain spotless in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. 

The national team debutant delivered right from the get-go, pouring in six points in the opening set and even brought them to a 21-20 lead. But lapses from their side allowed the visitors to unleash a 5-1 closing run to snatch the first set away, 22-25. 

Canino and the rest of the pack, though, turned the tides around in the succeeding sets to keep their record clean at 2-0 after also defeating Australia on Thursday night. 

India, which previously swept Iran and Chinese Taipei in their first assignments, absorbed its first loss to go 2-1 in Pool A.

Holding on to a 21-19 lead in the second set, Alas turned to Canino to put the set away after the La Salle standout unloaded all of their last four points to even the game, 25-21. 

But Alas proved they're not a one-man show with the towering duo of Fifi Sharma and The Gagate holding its own against the 6-foot Soorya Soorya with Sharma completing a quick attack to close out the Set 3 at 25-17. 

Eya Laure also showed up big time for the national team, burying back-to-back attacks in the fourth frame to bring the Philippines to a 10-3 cushion as Canino swung for a cross court kill over two blockers to widen the gap to five, 22-17.

Cherry Nunag came off the bench and delivered right away with her own quick play before a match point by libero Dawn Macandili caught everyone by surprise after she converted on a reception of a powerful kill from Radhakrishnan Anagha, 24-17. 

Nunag then attracted the blockers to open up Laure for a free attack as the Chery Tiggo star put the finishing kick.

Canino top-scored the Philippines with a game-high of 22 points anchored on 19 attacks, two aces, and one block while Laure tallied 17 markers. Both Sharma and Gagate churned out 12 points as Sisi Rondina chipped in nine markers.

Alas will look to go for a 3-0 slate when they take on Iran on Saturday while India will look to bounce back against Australia on the same day.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News