ALAS Pilipinas Women saw their Asian Games 2026 campaign come to a close on Thursday following a hard‑fought four‑set defeat to Kazakhstan in a do‑or‑die match at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Japan.
The Philippines dropped the tightly contested encounter by set scores of 27‑29, 26‑24, 25‑23, and 25‑19 — a result that eliminated the squad from quarterfinal contention even before the official opening ceremony of the Aichi‑Nagoya Games.
Angel Canino and Alyssa Solomon turned in explosive performances to keep the Philippines in the match, trading blows with Kazakhstan in three closely fought opening sets. Alas Pilipinas surged to claim the second and third frames, showcasing depth and determination that had the team within striking distance of advancing. However, Kazakhstan dug in to edge the opener before seizing control of the fourth set, where Zhanna Syroyeshkina fired back‑to‑back aces in a decisive 21‑13 run that broke the match open.
Canino and Solomon sought to rally one final time, but Kazakhstan’s Kristina Belova delivered the finishing blows to seal the result. The loss means the Philippine women’s indoor volleyball team exits the tournament earlier than hoped, with the squad unable to progress past the preliminary round stage. While the campaign ends in disappointment, the grit displayed in pushing Kazakhstan to the brink underscores the team’s growing competitiveness on the continental stage.
metrosundaily
