Alas Pilipinas. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA (UPDATED) – Almost there but not quite yet.

Host Alas Pilipinas bowed to Kazakhstan in straight sets, 23-25, 21-25, 14-25, in the semifinal round of the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The taller Kazakhs leaned on their team captain Sana Anarkulova, who logged 19 points on 18 attacks and a block, while Svetlana Nikolayeva added 11 for the visitors as they took the match in one hour, 31 minutes.

An unsung hero in form of "magic bunot" Arah Panique led the Alas scoring with 14 points, while usual performers like Angel Canino (9 points), Sisi Rondina (8 points), and Eya Laure (3 points) were held to single-digit scoring as our hometown heroes absorbed the loss.

The attacking seemed to be fine for our volleyball stars as the Kazakhs only led by four in that aspect—43 for the foreigners and 39 for Alas.

However, the Anarkulova-led squad dominated the blocking department, which proved that height matters specifically on that match — the Kazakhs had eight while the Filipinas had only three, which all came from the rising Panique.

Coach Jorge de Brito said that they prepared for their block but the fast Kazakhs were triumphant in pulling away in the ballgame.

"We were prepared to play against them. They have a tough block, they pressured on the first two sets. But they came fast in the beginning," said the Alas mentor after the match.

The visitors established a 21-10 separation early in the match, but Alas cut it down to just one point at 22-23 after a 12-2 run.

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However, the Kazakhs were successful in averting collapse and kept the separation for themselves in the opening canto, 25-23, as they also cruised towards a finals berth after clinching the next two.

Still, De Brito lauded Alas' grit despite the heartbreaking defeat.

"What I liked about our team, they never give up in any moment. Also, we played most of the time in the same level with them. These guys are on their way to be much better than this one. It's a promise that they did to themselves," said De Brito.

Alas also gave away 20 points in errors, while the Jia de Guzman-captained squad only claimed 13 markers for the Kazakhs' faults.

Despite the loss, the Philippines will still have a chance to capture the bronze medal on Wednesday against Australia, which earlier lost to the Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen-led Vietnam, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16.

De Guzman said that she's still proud of the team but also asserted that they need to perform better versus Australia.

"Sobrang proud ko talaga sa team. Wala akong ibang words for it kasi ramdam ko na lumalaban kahit dehado kami, kahit naghahabol kami, kahit mabilis kaming napupuntusan ng Kazakhstan, feel ko pa rin na gustong-gusto lumaban ng bawat isa sa amin whether inside the court or sa bench namin," the team captain said.

"Bukas, kailangang mas higitan pa namin," De Guzman added.