THE mission to match the impressive fourth-place finish by the 1962 Philippine team starts on Wednesday as Alas Women Pilipinas take on the towering Chinese squad at the start of the volleyball competition in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan.
Game time is set at 1 p.m. (PH time), with the Nationals needing a divine intervention if they are to tear down the “Great Wall” at the Park Arena Komaki.
For one, the Chinese are eager to redeem themselves after losing to the Thais in the recent Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup held in Tianjin, China.
Their heartbreaking 2-3 (20-25, 25-11, 25-23, 18-25, 10-15) defeat to the Thais is expected to give them extra motivation to extend their reign in the continental showpiece.
The Chinese have lorded over the Games the past nine editions, and this year’s Games, they want nothing less than another gold to make up for their loss in the Continental Cup.
The Nationals, including their Japanese coach, Taka Minowa, are confident they can give the Chinese a scare, although beating them is another story.
“We are mentally ready to face the Chinese. We’ll try our very best,” said Minowa, accompanied by Filipina wife JaJa Santiago.
Hopefully, the Nationals won’t suffer the fate as Gilas, whom the Chinese manhandled by 44 points (105-61).
If the Nationals lose to China, it must beat Kazakhstan on Thursday to advance to the quarters and get a chance of matching the remarkable fourth place finish by the 1962 Philippine team.
