Gutsy Alas Pilipinas falls to Kazakhstan in AVC semis

Alas Pilipinas failed to extend its winning ways after faltering against Kazakhstan 25-23, 25-21, 25-14 during their semifinals clash in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Filipinas, who had an unbeaten run in the pool play, absorbed their first loss of the tourney and will be relegated to the battle for third on Wednesday.

Kazakhstan, meanwhile, arranged a rematch against its pool stage tormentor Vietnam in their battle for gold medal also on Wednesday.

Despite being pitted against the world no. 30 Kazakhstan, the Filipinas still left it all out on the taraflex with 19-year-old Arah Panique serving as the bright spot as she finished with a team-high 14 points anchored on 10 attacks, three blocks, and one ace off the bench.

Panique created an instant impact in the first set, allowing the hosts to erase what was once an 11-point deficit, 10-21, as she instigated a massive 12-2 rampage to cut the deficit to just one, 22-23.

But a backrow kill from Margarita Belchenko spoiled the Philippines comeback as the visitors drew first blood.  Alas kept it close in the second set with Fifi Sharma and Jia Morado serving up an ace, 20-22, but a miscommunication on the second ball during the last play saw Kazakhstan cruising to a commanding 2-0 set lead.

The Philippines still tried to make another comeback act in the third, but errors haunted them en route to their first-ever loss of the tournament.

Despite the loss, the Philippines is still qualified for the FIVB Challenger Cup in July as the country will also host it.

Team captain Sana Anarkulova paced Kazakhstan with 19 points while Svetlana Nikolayeva chipped in 11 markers.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News