Zhalyn Mateo scored 12 points, leading Team Philippines’ tough stand in a 20-18, 12-10 conquest of the United States in the 2026 Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia Saturday (Manila time).
Raina Airul Verginio and Aurora Adriano had their solid contributions with six points each as the Philippine handballers fashioned out a second win in the blue-ribbon event and stayed on course towards improving on their 12th-place showing the previous edition.
Coach Joanna Franquelli also banked on the support of Daphne Jane Payadon, Josephine Ong and Shanina Mae Tapawan as they progressed to the fight for ninth to 12th places.
‘Going here, the target was to do better from our previous finish. Our girls are fighting, and they’re on track to achieving the goal,’ said national federation president Ernesto Jay Adalem.
With their straight-sets disposal of the Americans, Franquelli and her team advanced to the next round versus Uruguay, also straight-sets winner over Cook Islands.
The Philippines had its previous win over former three-time champion Brazil – a 7-6 shootout victory in the main round. However, succeeding losses to Greece and Norway relegated the Filipinas to the ninth to 16th place quarterfinals.