Although Alas Pilipinas suffered a heartbreaker to Kazakhstan to bid farewell to their championship dreams in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup, Arah Panique seized her national team moment and proved she belongs on the international stage.
Alas Pilipinas bid farewell to their championship dreams in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup after a hard-fought loss to Kazakhstan in the semifinals on Tuesday, May 28.
Despite the heartbreaking result, the Filipinas put up a gallant stand in the face of a taller, more experienced, and higher-ranked Kazakhs side.
And the one that arguably showed the biggest of heart on such a fateful night was Arah Panique, who emerged as the leading scorer of the Philippines with 14 points.
For the 19-year-old Panique, she simply wanted to show her worth and repay the trust of Alas captain Jia De Guzman and the rest of the team.
“Siguro po pinakita ko lang po kung ano ‘yung kaya ko,” said Panique, who scattered 10 attacks, three blocks, and ace.
“And tiwala po sa sarili na sinasabi lagi ng mga ates na magtiwala lang palagi sa sarili and sa ibang kasama po, especially kay ate Jia, nagbigay talaga siya ng tiwala and sa mga coaches na nagtitiwala din po sakin na ipasok po ako and always ready lang ‘yung sarili.”
Panique came off the bench, providing the much-needed spark when the scoring of Alas Pilipinas went adrift in the opening frame.
The promising opposite hitter displayed grit and resilience as she delivered six points that instigated a 10-1 run to trim a 12-22 deficit down to a point at 22-23.
Panique then pitched in eight more points in the succeeding sets, but the Kazakhs proved to be too much for the Filipinas.
“Sobrang lakas na po ng loob na ano po sa sarili ko na, ‘Ay pinasok ako, kailangan ko ibigay ‘yung kaya kong gawin’ and siyempre, pinagkatiwalaan po ako so ipapakita ko lang talaga ‘yung makakaya ko,” Panique said.
Despite falling short of a Finals appearance, Alas Pilipinas still have a shot at a coveted spot on the podium as Panique and the rest of the team attempt to reassert their mastery over Australia in the battle for bronze on Wednesday, May 29, at 4:00 p.m.
“Siguro po, itong game po ‘yung panghuhugutan ngayon na maging inspirasyon namin na bumawi kami sa [last] game po,” Panique said.