Beach volleyball bronze leaves mark

Despite its federation’s suspension, political infighting and other issues, Philippine volleyball still wrote history with its most productive Asian Games campaign.

Marching into the Aichi-Nagoya Asiad was a milestone in itself, as the country, for the first time, fielded teams in both divisions of indoor and beach volleyball competitions.

Although the gold remained elusive in the 20th edition of the quadrennial continental meet, the young women’s beach volleyball tandem of Sofiah Pagara and Khylem Progella finally ended the Philippines’ long-awaited podium finish with a bronze medal.

Showing grit and fighting hearts, the two ladies produced a miracle, coming back from a set down and a four-point deficit in the deciding frame to ensure Alas won’t go home empty-handed this time.

The victory over the fancied Chinese pair of Shuting Cao and Jie Dong under the sun’s scorching heat at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court was the best finish of any Filipino volleyball team in the Asiad in 60 years.

Alas beach volleyball’s Asian Games achievement came on the heels of last year’s historic Southeast Asian Games gold medal by the crew of Sisi Rondina-Rosales, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, Sunny Villapando and Gene Eslapor.

Rosales and Pons reached the quarterfinal in their Asian Games debut.

“I think this is the time we take the flow and use this medal in a good way, not just for one team, but for the whole program,” Alas head coach Joao Luciano Kioday said.

“We already got the gold medal in the SEA Games. We got the bronze medal in the Asian Games. We’ve already proven that we deserve a little bit more support. We hope things change for the better. We just want the opportunity.”

The celebrated Alas Women indoor squad returned after skipping the pandemic-delayed Hangzhou edition three years ago.