PUERTO RICO blasted Belgium, 25-19, 25-15, 25-16, on Saturday in the semifinal phase to enter in the final round of 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Paola Santiago and young gun Grace Lopez were too much for the Belgians — who struggled from the very beginning up to the last set — as they led the Puerto Ricans’ onslaught to outhit their opponent, 41-26, behind their furious attacks.
Santiago, an outside hitter, delivered 12 attacks and a service ace for 13 points while the 18-year-old Lopez fired 10 kills to lead the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation champion.
“I think everything, we were locked in since the beginning. We had good serves, good defense, good attacks, and I think that’s what made us get the win,” Lopez said. “It feels great, and we have been working all summer for this and now we’re prepared for tomorrow’s final.”
Puerto Rico is set either Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup champion Vietnam and Czech Republic in Sunday’s final of the four-day tournament hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) headed by President Ramon Tats Suzara.
The tournament is backed by global partners Mikasa, Gerflor and Senoh and local partners PLDT, Rebisco, Manila Diamond Hotel, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Meralco, MWell, Cignal, Fitness First, Maynilad and Foton.
No Belgians were able to hit in double figures in scoring as Pauline Martin led them with nine attacks.
The Puerto Ricans also exploited Belgium’s 28 errors.
Puerto Rico opened the Challenger Cup with a 25-20, 25-19, 27-25 win over Paris Olympic bound Kenya on Thursday, while Belgium ousted Sweden also Thursday, 25-16, 25-23, 25-22, to both get into the semifinal.
The champion of this tournament will earn a Volleyball Nations League (VNL) women’s berth next year.
