MANILA – Alyssa Valdez made her first 32nd Southeast Asian Games appearance as the Philippine women’s volleyball team scored a 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 sweep of Singapore on Thursday night at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Held from playing in the Philippines’ first two games against Cambodia and Vietnam, the team captain of the national squad was finally tapped by head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito late in the first set when the Philippine teamwere ahead of Cambodia, 19-13.
Valdez, who played her first volleyball game since a knee injury last December, once again made her appearance late in the second and third set and was able to score the game-winning point for Team Philippines.
Kat Tolentino spearheaded the offense for Team Philippines with 11 points. Diana Carlos also contributed 11 markers, while Jessica Galanza uncorked 10 points off-the-bench for Philippines.
Team Philippines was in cruise control in the opening set with Aklanon Dell Palomata and Celine Domingo at the forefront of offense to build a 19-13 edge en route to a 25-17 final set score.
The Filipina spikers continued their dominance in the second frame with Tolentino, Carlos and Galanza for a 14-8 start. Singapore tried to keep it close at 13-18 but errors on their side allowed the Philippines to score a 25-14 win.
Singapore kept the match close early in the third frame as they were down 6-8 but consecutive attacks from Carlos followed by conversion from Mylene Paat gave the Philippines a 21-11 advantage.
With the Philippines ahead 24-13 after a down-the-line connection by Galanza, Souza de Brito reinserted Valdez in the game and she was set up for a game-winning off-the-block hit.
The national women’s volleyball team kept their medal hopes alive as they finished the group stage with a 2-1 slate and will face either Thailand and Indonesia in the semifinals on Saturday.
The Philippine team is hoping to end an 18-year SEA Games medal drought. They finished fourth out of five competing teams during the 31st SEA Games last year in Hanoi, Vietnam./PN
