Last-minute addition Arah Panique stayed patient and made her minutes matter in Alas Pilipinas’ historic semifinal appearance in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.

The 19-year-old opposite spiker from National University may have been the youngest in the roster, but what showed was her maturity to lead when she needed to.

Panique, who replaced Caisey Dongallo due to a fractured right wrist, finished with a team-high 14 points for the Philippines in its semifinal loss against Kazakhstan on Tuesday night, May 28.

Though a win would’ve made it all the more better, Panique’s performance earned her deserved praises from head coach Jorge de Brito and playmaker captain Jia Morado.

"It was not a surprise for me. The guys who were watching the games in the UAAP know that she has the potential. She's not under pressure anymore to play under any kind of competition. She's really comfortable," de Brito said.

"She's young, she makes some mistakes but it happens only when the players go inside. So, I'm really proud of her."

"Not even showing any hesitation to do any actions inside."

Morado, who had initially stressed that there was no wasted rotation in the lineup, was more than glad to have Panique in full swing and ready to fight in front of the taller Kazakhs.

When Alas Pilipinas fell into a huge deficit in the first set of the knockout semifinal, Panique checked in for Sisi Rondina and led the comebacks that followed, something that they can count on for the long haul.

“Si Arah (Panique) kasi, sobrang ganda ng pasok niya kanina. She added so much sa offense namin and at the same time, she’s just so energetic and so eager to play na kaming nasa loob, nadadala rin kami. Ang ganda rin kasi nakikita namin na malalim din ‘yung bench namin and magagamit pa rin namin ‘yun [in the battle for third],” Morado said.

Panique, for her part, thrived in the trust handed to her and is looking forward to coming out bearing the offensive power and good energy needed from her.

"Siguro po pinakita ko lang po kung ano yung kaya ko and tiwala po sa sarili na sinasabi lagi ng mga ates na magtiwala lang palagi sa sarili and sa ibang kasama po, especially kay Ate Jia (de Guzman), nagbigay talaga siya ng tiwala," she said.

"And sa mga coaches na nagtitiwala din po sa'kin na ipasok po ako and always ready lang yung sarili."