Alas Pilipinas Women in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Photo from SAVA (UPDATED) After a setback in its opening match, Alas Pilipinas quickly regained its form and swept Singapore, 25-13, 25-8, 25-18, to secure a semifinals spot in the indoor volleyball competition of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Friday.
Before this game, Alas Women were coming from an 11-25, 17-25, 16-25 opening loss to the host nation Thailand (2-0), which already clinched a spot to the next round, in Group A action.
READ: Alas Pilipinas Women fall to host Thailand in SEAG opener
"Super happy po ako sa naging panalo po namin ngayong araw and siyempre marami pa po kaming paghahandaan talaga semis po. And, ayun po, sa game po ngayon parang nakita po namin kung ano 'yung naging mga kulang pa po namin. So ayun po, improve pa rin po," said opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon.
Alas Women dictated the tone early in the first two frames against the Singaporeans—cruising to a 14-6 start in Set 1, then a 15-5 start in the succeeding frame.
The opposing side kept the gap closer in Set 3 compared in Sets 1 to 2, even going within one, 14-13, but the Nationals found the 4-0 run, capped by a Mars Alba ace, that expanded their distance from the Singaporeans.
Another 4-0 kick propelled Alas to the semis, this time from the 21-18 count, as Shaina Nitura and Maddie Madayag fired the sharp hits to finish the match at 25-18.
"Siguro 'yung eagerness namin manalo sa game namin ngayon (lumabas) lalo na hindi naging maayos 'yung naging result yesterday. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung gusto naming result and ‘yun, ngayon po namin binawi ‘yung sa laro kahapon," Solomon added.
Meanwhile, star spiker Eya Laure, has yet to see action due to a minor abdominal strain she suffering during their training.
She is expected to bolster the squad in the semifinals, where they will face Vietnam, scheduled for Sunday, December 14.
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