Alas puts up solid stand vs Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas took a 25-18, 25-12, 18-25, 25-22 defeat at the hands of the taller, higher-ranked Pakistan last Tuesday at the start of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup in Manama, Bahrain.

But there were flashes of brilliance in that defeat to the world No. 49 as the Filipinos, ranked No. 62, pulled off a third-set win and showed fierce resistance in the fourth.

And the Nationals did it minus their skipper Marck Espejo, who was injured late in the opening set.

It didn’t matter that Alas dropped the first two sets as long as the Angiolino Frigoni-mentored squad battled Pakistan toe to toe in the end.

Despite the defeat, the country remained in quarterfinal contention and should advance if it could pull the rug from under world No. 45 Chinese Taipei late last night.

The Nationals are preparing for the FIVB World Championship the country will host this September and the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.