By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Philippine women’s national volleyball team just punched a ticket to the semifinal round of the ongoing Southeast Asian Games after pummeling Singapore in straight sets, 25-17, 25-14, 25-13, last May 11, 2023, held at the Olympic Stadium in Cambodia.
Right from the get-go, the Filipina spikers already scored at will led by Mylene Paat who set the tone for the national team with her efficient cross-court kills.
Aside from their blazing attack, the duo of Dell Palomata and Kat Tolentino anchored the PHL’s defense and swatted away four quick clean blocks in the first 10 minutes of action.
Singapore got close to within five points, 22-17, but the Filipinas scored three-straight markers to clinch the first set with boosting confidence.
Unlike the highly-competitive first set, the last two frames became one-sided in favor of the national team after flipping the switch in terms of the attacking department.
There was just no answer for Jema Galanza when she stepped up midway through the second set backstopped by her teammate in Creamline Tots Carlos.
Tolentino and Carlos top-scored for the PHL with 11 markers apiece while Galanza added 10 points in the crucial elimination match.
Alyssa Valdez, the national team’s captain who is still yet to regain her top form due to an injury, finally saw action for the first time and delivered the game-winning attack off a spike from the left side of the court.
The PHL officially ended its preliminary round campaign with a 2-1 record and will now march to the semifinal round against powerhouse team Thailand today, at 6 PM.
