Mental prep keys Alas win over Kazakhs

Alas Pilipinas pulled off a shocking 25-21, 25-15, 25-19 upset over Kazakhstan to take the top spot of Group B and enter the semifinal of the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup on Thursday in Hanoi. 

The troika of Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Alyssa Solomon carried Alas as they finished with a 4-1 win-loss record.

Belen, the Premier Volleyball League Draft No. 1 pick, drilled in 16 points for Alas while Solomon and Canino dropped 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Team captain Jia de Guzman admitted after their 25–17, 25–21, 25–18 win over New Zealand last Wednesday, they had already set their sights on the Kazakhs, who played without skipper Sana Anarkulova.

“After yesterday’s match (vs New Zealand), Kazakhstan was already in our minds as we left the court for the dugout. We knew the Kazakhs were a tough matchup and we needed our best to beat them,” de Guzman said.

“It’s unbelievable, a straight-set win for us, I’m really proud of my teammates. This victory is a big morale-booster for us.”

The Philippines, led by 2025 PVL Draft No. 1 pick Bella Belen with 16 points, did not waste any time and pounced on the Kazakhs.

Tied at 17 in the third set, Belen and Solomon put the game to rest with an 8-1 run to reach match point.

Margarita Belchenko scored a kill to try and ignite a comeback for Kazakhstan.

But Solomon took matters into her own hands, burying a crosscourt kill to complete the upset.

The victory was a perfect gift for Filipino volleyball fans inside the Dong Anh Arena as the Philippines celebrated its 127th Independence Day.

It was also payback for Alas, who finished on top of Group B with a 4-1 win-loss record, after being knocked out by the Kazakhs in the semifinals last year in Manila.

For Alas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, this victory was a product of their hard work and commitment to their game plan.

“Straight sets are hard to happen at this level, but there are some factors you have to consider. Kazakhstan lost the captain due to injury, but the main factor is that we played good all the time,” Souza de Brito said.

“So I expect my team to play better. I always tell them to perform well and the result will come.”

Belen, a longtime national team campaigner since her high school days with National University-Nazareth School, was confident from the start that they would be able to pull off the win against Kazakhstan.

“I had the opportunity to face Kazakhstan several times in the past, and they always have different sets of players. But deep in my mind, I know we can beat them,” Belen said.

Now, Alas will wait for the remaining matches in the elimination round to end to see who they will face in the crossover semifinal.

The match will be held on Friday night at 9 p.m. (Manila time) and will take on either host Vietnam or Chinese Taipei.

Alas looks to surpass its bronze medal finish from last year.