The Alas Pilipinas Men are eager to break through in their final match against New Zealand at the AVC Nations Cup.
With pride on the line, Alas Pilipinas will look to salvage a win and finish 10th in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men when they battle fellow winless squad New Zealand on Tuesday, June 24, at 5 p.m. (Manila time) in Bahrain.
Both teams are desperate for a breakthrough after suffering straight-set defeats in their previous outings.
New Zealand has yet to win a set in the tournament, while Alas Pilipinas managed to take one set each against Pakistan and Chinese Taipei in Pool C action before falling in straight sets to Thailand in the classification round.
Alas will once again bank on top scorer Leo Ordiales, whose consistent offensive production has been a bright spot in the team’s challenging campaign.
The Philippines though would have to minimize their errors, while improving their floor defense and blocks at the net.
With the Kiwis also struggling for form, the match presents the best chance yet for the Philippines to end its tournament on a winning note.
New Zealand, for its part, will be led by Mana Placid, the squad’s most reliable scorer throughout the competition.
A victory will help Alas Pilipinas avoid a winless finish and secure 10th place out of the 11 competing nations, as the team looks to end its Bahrain stint on a positive note while continuing to gain valuable international experience.
(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.]