Alas Pilipinas drops opener to China at AVC Men’s Challenge Cup

The Philippine men’s national volleyball team, Alas Pilipinas, faced a tough challenge in their opening match of the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup, falling short against China in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-22) early Monday morning (Philippine time) in Bahrain.

Despite facing the higher-ranked Chinese team, Alas Pilipinas displayed commendable grit throughout the match. The score remained tight in all three sets, showcasing the Filipinos’ determination to compete.

Zhang Jingyin led the Chinese offense with 15 points, while Jiang Chuan added 13 points to secure the victory.

For the Philippines, Jau Umandal and Leo Ordiales emerged as top scorers with 10 points each, highlighting their attacking prowess. Marck Espejo and Kim Malabunga also contributed valuable points with 8 and 5, respectively.

Alas Pilipinas will have a chance to bounce back as they face host nation Bahrain on Tuesday midnight. With only two group stage matches remaining, a win is crucial for the Filipinos’ qualification hopes. They will also need to rely on a favorable outcome in the China-Bahrain match to potentially secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

Only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.

While the loss against China was a setback, Alas Pilipinas remains determined to fight for their place in the quarterfinals. The Filipino fans are behind their team, hoping they can display their best performance against Bahrain and keep their journey in the AVC Challenge Cup alive.