Alas Pilipinas girls. Photo from SMM Volleyball
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas girls demolished Singapore, 25-14, 25-6, 25-12, to kick off its 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asian Under-18 Women’s Volleyball Championship on a rousing note on Saturday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Thailand.
University of Santo Tomas high school star Kimberly Rubin led the collective effort of the Philippine U-18 team for its first win in the six-team competition, where the top two teams of the single round-robin will clash in a winner-take-all final on June 13.
Rubin scored most of her points in the second set, where they dominated the Singaporeans by 19 points.
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Kimberly Rubin shone brightly, racking up eight points in the second set alone.
UST players Lianne Penuliar and Avril Bron were also instrumental for Alas, while Harlyn Serneche of National University-Nazareth School contributed to the squad in their first win.
Ashley Macalinao of Kings’ Montessori School scored five points in the third set before NUNS Akeyla Bartolabac delivered the game-winning ace.
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It was a winning debut for the new Philippine girls’ volleyball team Taka Minowa of Akari, which is also the backer of the young nationals.
Alas battles face Malaysia on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time) before taking on Thailand, Australia, and Indonesia.
The Alas girls will also compete in the Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship from June 16 to 23 also in Thailand.