MANILA — Alas Pilipinas secured the top spot in Pool B of the AVC Challenge Cup for Women after a straight-sets victory over Kazakhstan, 25-13, 25-21, 25-22, on Wednesday in Manila.
The Filipinas leaned on the scoring trio of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Angel Canino to overcome the height advantage of Kazakhstan, which missed team captain Sana Anarkulova due to injury. The win pushed the Philippines to a 4-1 record with 13 points, edging out Kazakhstan by one point for the No. 1 seed.
Belen led all scorers with 16 points, including 14 kills and two blocks. Solomon followed with 14 points, while Canino tallied 12, built on 11 spikes, a block, and an ace. The win also served as revenge for the Filipinas, who lost to Kazakhstan in last year’s semifinals.
“Straight sets is hard to happen at this level, but there are factors you have to consider,” head coach Jorge Souza de Brito said. “Kazakhstan lost their captain, but the main factor is we played well all the time.”
The Filipinas maintained composure throughout the match. In the third set, with the score tied at 17, Dell Palomata sparked a crucial run with a block that led to a 5-0 spurt. Belen then fired back-to-back attacks before Solomon delivered the match-clinching hit.
Setter and team captain Jia de Guzman steered the offense with steady playmaking, enabling Belen, Solomon, and Canino to break through the Kazakh defense. Palomata and Fifi Sharma added five points each.
“Mindset for semifinals is the same—play well and take every advantage we can,” said de Brito. “We’re in the top four; it will be a hard match.”
Alas Pilipinas will face the No. 2 seed from Pool A in the knockout semifinal round on Friday. As of posting, Vietnam leads Pool A with a 3-0 record, followed by Chinese Taipei at 2-1.
Kazakhstan’s Tatyana Nikitina was the only player in double figures for her team with 12 points, while Margarita Belchenko chipped in nine.
The win puts the Philippines one step closer to the tournament finals as they continue their pursuit of their first AVC Challenge Cup title.