Bright future beckons Filipino beach spikers

Filipino beach volleyball players are facing brighter future following their historic bronze medal women’s division of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya last week.

Alas Pilipinas coach Joao Luciano Kioday said he sees the potential of Filipino beach spikers after Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara emerged with a bronze medal in the prestigious continental showpiece.

After going undefeated in the preliminaries, Progella and Pagara recovered from a semifinal loss to Thailand by rallying past China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, to seal their podium finish on Friday at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.

“This is beach volleyball, right? So, when you have the opportunity, you need to take it. We try to believe that when we have the opportunity this time, we're going to take it. And that's what we did,” Kioday said after leading the Filipinas to their first Asian Games medal since the sport was introduced in the Hiroshima edition of the Asiad in 1994.

“I think Khy and Sofiah are super talented, but they proved that they have a good heart, a big heart for the game.”

Kioday was particularly impressed by how the Filipinas responded when the pressure was at its highest.

“They bounced back from the semifinals loss, and from the first set of the bronze medal game. And they were able to connect with the best of them, the best that they have,” he said.

“We believe each other every moment today. So that's why we win that game.”

The Brazilian mentor also marveled at the Philippines’ passion for indoor volleyball but he stressed that the beach program has the talent to make its own mark internationally.

“I think results are always a reference, right? So, I think we've improved a lot with the beach volleyball that we deserve a spot in the mix,” he said.

“I know the Philippines is a country very passionate for indoor volleyball. A lot of things going on about indoor volleyball that I think they deserve. But don't forget beach volleyball also deserves it.”

Prior to Progella and Pagara’s historic performance, the tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons emerged with a gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December.

Kioday believes those performances should be used as a springboard for the entire program.

“I always told them when I have a chance, the potential we can have. So 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,” he said, hoping that the pair can eventually become full-time professional beach volleyball players and chase bigger goals, including the Olympics.

“We just want the opportunity, right? Opportunity to take Khy and Sofiah, to make them a professional beach volleyball, to make them have hope to be in the Olympic one time, to be the best teams in the world because they have talent, they have potential for this. And that's what I really hope.”