MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino and Alas Pilipinas absorbed all the insights from their grueling five-set loss to Iran.
Alas were just two points shy of securing their third consecutive victory following Vanie Gandler’s crucial ace, which put them ahead 13-11. However, they faltered later and suffered their initial loss against the Iranian team with scores of 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 23-25, 13-15, on Monday.
READ: Alas Pilipinas stumbles later against Iran, suffers first defeat at AVC Nations Cup
The defeat left Alas Pilipinas facing a must-win scenario as they entered the final phase of the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup group stage.
Canino, who gave an outstanding performance with 21 points from 17 spikes, two blocks, and two aces, acknowledged that the loss was difficult to accept. However, they must push forward and complete their tasks in the remaining Pool B games against New Zealand this Wednesday and against last year’s runners-up Kazakhstan on Philippine Independence Day.
"It was a challenging match for our squad since, naturally, we aimed to triumph. However, concurrently, we gained significant insights from it. We trust that whatever knowledge we acquire from this contest will aid our development, not only as a unit but also personally," stated Canino in Filipino.
The previous UAAP Rookie MVP from La Salle emphasizes the importance of rectifying their errors, particularly during the final two sets which led to the loss.
ALAS PILIPINAS REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER TOPPING INDONESIA IN THE AVC NATIONS CUP
"What we went through here is truly precious. While we admit our errors, we also appreciate the positive aspects, such as the bond and interaction formed during the game. This camaraderie is among the key elements, whether playing or not," she stated.
Coach Jorge Souza De Brito mentioned that they plan to make full use of Tuesday’s break before their important games.
"The attitude remains unchanged; it's always about giving your best effort since the outcome will follow if you continue to play with intensity," he stated.
With a 2-1 record, Alas must secure victories in their final two matches to make it to the semifinals since only the top two teams in the group will move forward.
Ate Jia [De Guzman] assured us, 'Everything is fine. There will be more games for us.' All the lessons from today, we'll bring them forward to our upcoming matches," Canino shared. "She emphasized keeping our spirits high as this isn't over yet and we truly put forth all of our effort.