Alas Pilipinas bows out of AVC Challenge Cup contention after falling to host Bahrain

Alas Pilipinas Men is still looking for its breakthrough win after absorbing a sweep loss anew, this time against host Bahrain, 25-18, 25-23, 25-20, to formally bow out of podium contention in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup on early Tuesday in Manama, Bahrain.

The Filipinos, who were coming off a straight sets loss to China the other day, fell to a 0-2 to end their pool stage campaign as their fellow Pool A contenders China (1-0) and Bahrain (1-0) will qualify for the quarterfinals round.

After dropping the opening frame, Alas put up a better fight in Set 2 with Jau Umandal rejecting Abdulia Mohamed to force a 21-all deadlock before 5-foot-11 Jade Disquitado, who was converted to an opposite hitter, unleashed a drop ball to cut their deficit to just one, 22-23.

But Alas failed to provide the finisher with setter Alafyah Mahmood taking advantage of an overpass from Disquitado while team captain Anan Naser unloaded a huge kill off a timeout as the hosts cruised to a commanding 2-0 lead in their first game of the tournament.

Alas then saw themselves deep in a 20-16 hole after a Haider Hasan quick hammer in the crucial Set 3. Veteran middle blocker Kim Malabunga, though, continued to battle for the nationals after pouring in back-to-back quick hits to make it a 22-19 affair.

But Bahrain, who also dealt the Philippines a heartbreak during their Final 12 meeting in the 2023 edition, closed out the match with a 3-1 blast capped by an Ali Sayed Hashem off-the-block bomb.

With the loss, the Philippines has been relegated to the classification match against either Indonesia or Qatar.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News