At A Glance
- Despite the strong showing of its reinforcements, Alas Pilipinas bowed to host Vietnam, 20-25, 21-25, 21-25, on the opening night of the Women's Volleyball Cup at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium Sunday, June 29.
(Usports)
Despite the strong showing of its reinforcements, Alas Pilipinas bowed to host Vietnam, 20-25, 21-25, 21-25, on the opening night of the Women's Volleyball Cup at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium Sunday, June 29.
The Filipina hitters, led by Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, and Leila Cruz, couldn't get the job done against the heavy-hitting Vietnamese who remained on top of Pool A with a 2-0 slate.
Van Sickle and Co. will try to regain their winning ways when they face China-based club Sichuan this Monday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m.
Cruz topscored for the Nationals with 13, while Van Sickle backed her up with 12. Phillips and Palomata, meanwhile, conspired for 18 points.
Skipper Jia De Guzman, on the other hand, flashed her playmaking prowess despite the roster changes in Alas as eight players were added in the lineup including setter Tia Andaya and Maddie Madayag.
The Vietnamese side, as expected, was anchored by Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, the same players that helped Vietnam drop the Philippines in the AVC Nations Cup final earlier this month.
Regardless of the record, all eight participating teams from two groups will barge into the quarterfinal round of the week-long competition with Russia’s Korabelka as the reigning champion.
From there, all games will be knockout in quarters, semifinal, play-off for third, and final.