Alas Pilipinas women’s road to next month’s Asian Games in Aichi, Japan gets tougher each day as they wade into battle in the SEA V Cup Leg 2 unfurling Friday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
There, the Nationals face the tougher Thais, who sent in the cavalry with several of their top players who saw action in the Volleyball Nations League now back in the fold after missing Leg 1 in Hanoi, Vietnam less than week ago.
Pornpun Geudpard, Chatchu-on Moksri and Pimpichaya Kokram are among the six returnees and should make the Thais, who won nine of the first 10 SEA V Cup legs, the favorites to top Leg 2.
Interestingly, Thailand ruled Leg 1 minus its VNL veterans but faced some rough sailing early including its most difficult match in the leg against Alas that ended up in a five-set triumph.
The Thais won’t be that vulnerable this time.
The Filipinas, in contrast, will carry the same roster, headed by Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon Eya Laure and Mars Alba, who shone the brightest in Leg 1.
The squad left Hanoi winless in three outings.
What the Filipinas could hope for is to just give their best and, if it helps, pray for a miracle against the heavily favored Thais.
Alas, which is using these tournaments as part of its preparation for Aichi, clashes with Vietnam Saturday and Indonesia Sunday.