Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara turned heartbreak into history Friday, Oct. 2, rallying past China, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, for Asian Games bronze. It is the Philippines’ first medal in beach volleyball at the continental meet.

The Alas Pilipinas pair, who play for the University of Santo Tomas, beat Cao Shuting and Dong Jie at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Aichi-Nagoya after losing the opening set. They finished the bronze match a day after a painful semifinal exit.

Progella and Pagara Rally Past China for Asian Games Bronze

Progella and Pagara were dominated in the first set but kept fighting. They faced match point in the second set before forcing a decider and flipping the match.

China led 12-11 in the third set, Rappler reported, before the Filipinas won four of the next five points to finish it, 15-13. Progella and Pagara are both 20.

The medal came one day after a straight-sets semifinal loss to Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee on Thursday, Oct. 1. The scores were 21-23 and 18-21.

Why the UST Tiger Sands’ Asian Games Medal Matters for Alas Pilipinas

Progella set the tone before the bronze match, telling BusinessMirror, “It’s our last match here so we’ll go all out.” The pair did exactly that in Hekinan.

The result extends a breakout year for the Tiger Sands duo. Varsitarian reported that they won the FIVB Beach Pro Tour Futures title in August over Rondina and Pons, plus the UAAP Season 88 crown, with Progella named MVP.

For Philippine beach volleyball, the bronze marks a first Asian Games podium and a young core to build around. The veteran pairing of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons fell to Thailand in the quarterfinals, leaving the medal to the younger tandem.