Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara inched closer to making history as the Alas Pilipinas pair advanced to the women’s beach volleyball semifinals in the 20th Asian Games on Wednesday at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The ProPa duo, who entered the tournament as underdogs being ranked no.90 in the world, stunned host Japan’s 40th-ranked sisters Ren and Non Matsumoto in a thrilling quarterfinal match, 24-22, 22-20.
It is also the first time a Philippine team reached the final four in women’s beach volleyball in the Asian Games.
“Sobrang nakakapagod pero sobrang happy po kasi alam po namin sobrang hirap nila kahit ang liit nila pero nilaban namin at pinag-pray namin ng sobrang na sana makuha namin ito para sa pinaghirapan namin ng ilang buwan,” shared Progella.
“Sobrang grateful po sa nangyari, hindi po namin inexpect na ganito yung mangyayari. Pinaghandaan po namin at nagtrabaho po kami. Nanood po kami ng mga videos nila para alam po namin yung dapat gawin sa laro po,” Pagara noted.
Progella and Pagara, still undefeated in five games, will return to the sand courts on Thursday, October 1 at 8 a.m. Philippine time to face Thailand for a spot in the gold-medal match.
The Philippines could have arranged an all-Filipina semifinal, but Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons fell short against Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Khongphopsarutawadee 17-21, 21-12, 13-15.
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