Alas Pilipinas face New Zealand with their backs against the wall in Pool B of the AVC Nations Cup.
With their semifinal hopes hanging in the balance, Eya Laure and Alas Pilipinas aim to bounce back strong when they take on New Zealand in a pivotal Pool B match in the AVC Women’s Nations Cup on Tuesday, June 11, at 4:00 p.m. (Manila time) in Vietnam.
Alas enters the do-or-die showdown with a 2-1 record, needing a win to stay in contention for one of the top two spots in the group, which would secure a place in the knockout round.
The national team is coming off a tough five-set loss to Iran, where Laure provided a steady spark with 16 points in a gallant but ultimately futile stand.
[READ: Alas Pilipinas suffer first loss in AVC Nations Cup vs Iran]
With a day of rest and recovery under their belt, the Filipinas are banking on their depth and firepower to turn the tide.
Vanie Gandler, Angel Canino, and Shaina Nitura are expected to provide ample support, while Jia Morado-De Guzman continues to orchestrate the offense against a physical New Zealand side.
The Kiwis, now 1-2, are fresh off a confidence-boosting win over Mongolia and are out to play spoilers.
Charlton Vail will be one to watch after leading New Zealand with 16 points in that breakthrough victory.
A win for Alas Pilipinas would keep their semifinal dreams alive in the prestigious continental tilt and offer a chance to build on their bronze-medal finish from last year’s edition.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]