Pinay pride

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

The troika of Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Alyssa Solomon led the charge for Alas, who finished with a 4-1 win-loss record.

Belen, the Premier Volleyball League Draft top overall pick, drilled in 16 points while Solomon and Canino dropped 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Team captain Jia de Guzman admitted that they had already set their sights on the Kazakhs following their 25–17, 25–21, 25–18 win over New Zealand last Wednesday.

“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,” said de Guzman,who took advantage of the absence of Kazakhstan skipper Sana Anarkulova.

“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.”

With Belen at the firing end, the Filipinas did not waste any time and pounced on the Kazakhs.

Tied at 17 in the third set, Belen and Solomon put the game in the bag with a fiery windup despite Margarita Belchenko scoring a kill to try and ignite a comeback.

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.

Also, it was 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, the victory was the result 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,” said Souza de Brito, whose wards are looking for surpass their bronze medal finish last year.

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

A longtime national team campaigner since her high school days at National University-Nazareth School, Belen was confident that they would be able to pull off the win over 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 is just waiting for the remaining matches in the elimination round to see whom it will face in the crossover semifinals.

Vietnam and Chinese Taipei will be clashing on Friday with the winner gaining the right to face the Filipinas in the Final Four.