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| A historic beach volleyball bronze gave the Alas Pilipinas program a happy ending in the Asian Games amid financial issues. POC Media Pool |
HEKINAN, Japan—Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara turned heartbreak into history, rallying from a set down to capture a historic bronze medal in the Asian Games women’s beach volleyball on Friday at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.
The young Alas Pilipinas tandem battled back from a slow start to stun China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, securing the Philippines’ first-ever Asian Games podium finish in beach volleyball.
“Sobrang nakaka-overwhelmed po ‘yung nangyari, trinabaho po namin kung ano ‘yung deserve namin,” said Pagara.
Progella and Pagara refused to fold despite being dominated in the opening set and facing a match point in the second, with the Chinese pair moving ahead, 20-19.
The pair from University of Santo Tomas erased the deficit and forced a deciding set, where the match remained tight until the crucial stretch. Locked at 10-all, Progella and Pagara surged ahead, 14-12, putting themselves within one point of the bronze.
China saved one match point, but the Filipinas remained composed.
Dong then sent an over pass long, triggering a celebration from the Philippine side as Progella and Pagara secured their place in Asian Games history.
“Actually noong first set andoon ‘yung kaba and ‘yung pressure na hindi madala ‘yung sarili but at the end of first set, na-overcome namin ‘yung pressure,” said Progella.
The team, supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, celebrated the country's best finish in the event since beach volleyball was introduced at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.
The bronze came less than 24 hours after Progella and Pagara saw their gold-medal hopes dashed in the semifinals.
