NAGOYA, Japan — Alas Pilipinas Women open their Asian Games campaign against a true volleyball powerhouse. The Nationals face China on Wednesday, September 16, in a match that kicks off their bid to match the country’s historic 1962 fourth-place finish.

Game time is set for 1 p.m. Philippine time at Park Arena Komaki. The Nationals will need a special performance if they hope to breach China’s dominant defense.

China Brings Motivation and a Nine-Game Winning Streak Into Nagoya

China arrives in Nagoya looking to bounce back from a painful setback. The squad lost 2-3 to Thailand at the recent Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup in Tianjin, China.

That defeat came down to the wire, with sets going 20-25, 25-11, 25-23, 18-25, and 10-15. The heartbreaking finish is expected to fuel extra motivation heading into the Asian Games.

China has ruled the Asian Games volleyball competition for nine straight editions. This year, the squad wants nothing less than gold to erase the sting of their Continental Cup loss.

Alas Pilipinas Stays Confident Despite the Tall Task Ahead

Head coach Taka Minowa says his team won’t back down from the challenge. “We are mentally ready to face the Chinese. We’ll try our very best,” Minowa said.

Minowa was accompanied by his wife, Filipina volleyball star Jaja Santiago, during the team’s preparations. The coach has led Alas Pilipinas through a demanding stretch of international competition this year.

The Nationals are hoping to avoid the kind of lopsided result Gilas Pilipinas suffered against China. The men’s basketball team fell by 44 points, losing 105-61, in a game that exposed a wide talent gap.

If Alas Women fall to China, their tournament isn’t over. A win over Kazakhstan on Thursday would still give them a path to the quarterfinals and a shot at matching the 1962 team’s historic fourth-place finish.