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The Philippines returned to full strength after missing some of their star players and got off to a 4-0 start in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for a spot in the knockout final against veterans Kazakhstan.
MANILA, Philippines – It’s finally time for Alas Philippines to get serious as they take on powerhouse Kazakhstan at a packed Rizal Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, May 28, to put their unbeaten record on the line in the knockout semifinals of the 2024 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup.
With their core six players getting plenty of rest between daily matches, the Philippines should be fully fired up and ready to take on world No. 30 Kazakhstan, currently ranked eight spots higher than AVC defending champions and Pool B top seed Vietnam.
And unlike Chinese Taipei, ranked 46th in the world, who fielded a string of young prospects to battle it out in Manila, this Kazakhstan team is a bona fide senior squad led by star hitters Sana Anarkoulova and Zhanna Syroeshkina.
Alas Pilipinas, who entered the Challenge Cup at age 62 and has now risen to 55th in the world rankings, and stars such as Zia de Guzman, Angel Canino, Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina are expected to continue their good form and climb the rankings.
If they can overcome the Kazakhstan conundrum and reach the knockout stages, it would be a great boost to the hosts' still-growing reputation on the international stage.
Can Aras maintain his unbeaten run of five straight wins, or will the veteran Kazakh rider bring the in-form riders back to reality?
The first service will be at 7pm, immediately following the other semi-final match between Vietnam and Australia. – Rappler.com
