This is the first time the Philippines won a medal in the AVC Challenge Cup. The team needed 14 aces to achieve the feat.
Alas Pilipinas, the Philippine women's national volleyball team, made history on Wednesday by securing a bronze medal in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
Here's a look back at the feat.
Alas Pilipinas was coming off a straight-set beating at the hands of Kazakhstan in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup semifinals. This was a now-or-never moment in front of the home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The first set was a sign of things to come. Twenty-three year old middle blocker Thea Gagate of the De La Salle University single-handedly blocked the attack of Caitlin Tipping, Australia's top scorer of the tournament and one of the AVC Best Outside Hitters. Gagate had ten points in the match--three coming from deflections.
Eya Laure only had three points in the loss to Kazakhstan. After that loss, she sought her collegiate and professional coach Kungfu Reyes for a hug, seemingly in tears.
The Sleya bounced back the next day, firing ten points against a hapless Australia. Eight of those came from attacks.
It was also a bounce back moment for Angel Canino, Alas Pilipinas' top scorer of the day with 14 points.
Alas Pilipinas' first match of the tournament was against Australia, where the Volleyroos took the first frame before the Filipinas eventually won in four sets.
There was no such thing that happened on Wednesday. Sisi would not be denied and took care of all three set points for Alas Pilipinas. Australia lost all will with only seven points in the third frame.
With a sweep, the Philippines secured the bronze medal in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup. It's their first-ever podium finish in the tournament.
It's also the Philippines' first medal in any AVC-sanctioned tournament in 63 years. It's also an especially sweet moment for Eya and Sisi--products of the UST Golden Tigresses reunited for the national team.
They could not have done it without the perfect receptions from Chery Tiggo libero Jen Nierva.
They could not have done it either without the incredible dives from Cignal and longtime national team libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
"Iba ka, Dawn," setter Jia de Guzman wrote on social media.
But most of all, they could not have done it without their veteran setter and now-captain Jia de Guzman.
The crowd was chanting Jia's name, as she was eventually hailed Player of the Game.
They only had two weeks together--the actual training days could only be counted on one hand.
But the confidence she provided for each member of the team produced dividends for Alas Pilipinas in the tournament.
Before the tournament, the members of Alas Pilipinas said their hidden ace was Jia. That it was nakakakilig to get a set from Jia.
It was only fitting that De Guzman was hailed the AVC Challenge Cup Best Setter.
Angel Canino, who missed out on the UAAP Season 86 awards due to an arm injury and was recently converted to a new position for Alas Pilipinas, proved her worth as the tournament's Best Opposite Spiker.
Alas Pilipinas members get a P200,000 bonus for their efforts.
They would also be flying out to South Korea for an exhibition game before returning home for the FIVB Women's Challenger Cup, which would also be hosted by the Philippines in July.
The PNVF also said this team would remain intact, with the addition of collegiate stars Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, and Casiey Dongallo.
Last year, De Guzman emphasized the need for continuity after the Philippines missed out on a Southeast Asian Games medal yet again. This year, the kapitana finally gets her wish.
After four straight fourth place finishes in the SEA Games, will this Alas Pilipinas team get back to the podium as well?