Alas Pilipinas U18 are two wins away from the gold medal, but they face their toughest test next vs. Iran in the Asian Youth Games semifinals.
Alas Pilipinas U18 are on a mission — and they’re doing it in style.
The young Filipinas punched their ticket to the Asian Youth Games semifinals after a hard-fought 25-16, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18 victory over Chinese Taipei on Sunday at Isa Sports City in Bahrain.
Despite dropping the second set, the duo of Sam Cantada and Rhose Almendralejo joined forces to take control of the final two frames and seal the win in one hour and 47 minutes.
“Masaya po kasi nagawa po namin ‘yung panalo namin. Pinagtrabahuhan po talaga namin kasi knockout na po ‘yung laro namin, and kailangan po namin umangat sa top four para makakuha po kami ng gold,” Rihanna Cris Navarro said.
Next up, Alas U18 will face its toughest challenge yet — Pool E top seed Iran — with a spot in the gold medal match on the line.
“Mare-rate ko po sa 10 out of 10, 10 po talaga, kasi kayang-kaya po talaga namin ’to at ilalaban po talaga namin ’to para sa bayan,” Navarro added, showing the team’s confidence heading into the semifinals.
In the other semifinal bracket, unbeaten Thailand will take on Indonesia. But it wasn’t just volleyball where Filipino athletes made their presence felt.
In boxing, Leo Mhar Lobrido advanced to the semifinals after outclassing Binul Dulnada Dewasiri Narayana of Sri Lanka in the boys’ light flyweight division — a victory that already guarantees him at least a bronze medal.
Filipino boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido beats Binul Dewasiri Narayana in their quarterfinals of the boys’ light flyweight division | Photo: POC Pool
Meanwhile, in weightlifting, Princess Jay Ann Diaz and Jay-R Colonia lifted their way onto the podium.
Weightlifter Princess Jay Ann Diaz added another bronze to the Philippines' haul in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. | | Photo: POC Pool
Diaz bagged bronze in the girls’ 44-kg clean and jerk, while Colonia took home bronze in the boys’ 56-kg category, adding to the Philippines’ growing medal tally.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.