Tag: advances

Puerto Rico ousts Kenya, advances to semis

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Puerto Rico celebrates after a win over Kenya in the FIVB Challenger Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. –VOLLEYBALL WORLD

MANILA, Philippines — Grace Lopez lifted Puerto Rico to the semifinal of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup after ousting Kenya, 25-20, 25-19, 27-25, on Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Lopez, the 18-year-old opposite spiker, showed maturity beyond years for the Puerto Ricans to live another day in the four-day qualifier for next year’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

She led the charge with 19 points built on 18 attacks and an ace to advance to the knockout semifinal on Saturday against the winner between Sweden and Belgium scheduled on Thursday evening 

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at FIVB Challenger Cup

“It’s really good. We had a good start and I hope [on Saturday] we win,” Lopez said. “Before the game, we talked that we have to start strong, put almost every serve in and I think that’s the thing that help us win.”

The young Puerto Rican, who has been enjoying her stay in Manila so far, believes that the trust of her teammates and coaches fuels her to play better for her country and step up even at a young age.

“It feels good. I’ve been working with that [trust] like my whole life, with my parents, the coaches and you know, the discipline and I think that’s what helps me play good,” Lopez said. 

READ: After VNL success, PH plays host anew as Challenger Cup fires off

Puerto Rico blew a 24-21 match point advantage in the third set after committing crucial errors that allowed Kenya to save three match points and tie the game at 24-all. Stephanie Rivera came to the rescue to bring back the Puerto Ricans on top but Pamella Adhiambo Owino tied the frame with a down-the-line kill. 

Rivera drilled back-to-back hits to complete the straight-set win to finish with nine points. Diana Reyes chipped in 10 points including two aces, as setter Wilmarie Rivera tossed 25 excellent sets on top of six points off three aces, two attacks, and a block.

Kenya’s Challenger Cup stint ended up with just a game as it is already eliminated from contention.



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Owino was the lone bright spot with 22 points, followed by Belinda Nanjala Barasa, who added nine points.

Alex Eala advances to WTA Veneto Open quarterfinals

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Filipino tennis player Alex Eala in the WTA Veneto Open. -VENETO OPEN/RAFA NADAL ACADEMY

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala entered the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Veneto Open quarterfinal after dominating home bet Georgia Pedone, 6-3, 6-3, on Thursday (Manila time) in Gaiba, Italy.

The 19-year-old Filipino netter is making her first quarterfinal appearance in the WTA Tour, where she suffered early exits in her previous outings.

It took an hour and 23 minutes for Eala to beat Pedone to move to the farthest she had reached in the WTA.

READ: Alex Eala vows to come back stronger after Miami Open exit

Eala is facing former World No. 5 Sara Errani early Saturday morning (Manila time) as she hopes to continue her dream run.

“First WTA Quarterfinal! Fully focused for the next round!” Eala wrote.

The World No. 169 Eala opened her campaign in Italy with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Carole Monnet of France.

The Rafael Nadal Academy product faces a 37-year-old veteran in World No.91 Errani, whom she upset in the qualifiers of the Miami Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win last March 18.



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Spain advances to knockout round at Euro 2024, beating Italy

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Spain’s Alvaro Morata celebrates with teammates after Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori, right, lies face down on the pitch after scoring an own goal during a Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 football tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany— Europe beware — Spain might just be back.

The three-time European champion advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against holders Italy on Thursday.

A 55th-minute own goal by Riccardo Calafiori settled the Group B game at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. But that didn’t begin to tell the full story of a statement performance from Spain, which surely marks it as one of the favorites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship.

“I think it was the best Spain performance I have taken charge of,” coach Luis de la Fuente said. “I don’t see a ceiling on this team. The sky is the limit.”

READ; Mbappe breaks nose in France Euro 2024 win

Spain totally dominated defending champion Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of football’s most exciting young stars.

Player of the match Nico Williams also tormented Italy’s defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring in the second half.

It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn’t prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal.

“They deserved to win and we were never in the game,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said. “There was too much of a gulf. We were constantly stretched, we were never able to squeeze the gaps between the various units and they were able to cause us problems. They caused us more problems than the score line suggests, let’s not beat around the bush.”

READ: Spain removes word ‘women’ from national team name to show conceptual shift

Spain produced a throwback performance that brought to mind the years when it ruled international football when winning back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 through 2012.

Having failed to dominate possession for the first time in 136 competitive games in its opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain was back to its old ways in starving Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided game.

Chances came thick and fast in the first half, with Donnarumma pulling off a number of saves to keep the score goalless.

For all of Spain’s superiority, it took Calafiori’s own goal to break the deadlock after halftime.

Donnarumma pushed Alvaro Morata’s glancing header into the legs of Calafiori, who could only watch as the ball rebounded into the back of the net.

Williams was then millimeters away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit the bar.

“We dominated across the board,” Williams said. “Italy are an excellent side but we played very well and deserved to win.”

Williams is just one of the bright young stars in De la Fuente’s team. Yamal is another and the Barcelona teenager, who has a $1 billion buyout clause, showcased his talents with slaloming runs and tricks.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri looks like the modern-day answer to Spain great Andres Iniesta.

“I want to underline the quality of this generation of players, particularly those in this squad. Spanish players are the best in the world,” De la Fuente said.

Spain has endured frustrating times since it last won the Euros in 2012, with early exits from the last three World Cups.

At the last Euros, it lost on penalties to Italy in the semifinals.

But there have been signs of its resurgence in recent times, having won the UEFA Nations League last year.

Now it looks well-positioned to push for another major title in Germany.

“Essentially we haven’t achieved anything yet,” De la Fuente said. “Football can be very cruel. We have to be cautious, humble and show resect.”

England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored and then made a mistake that led to the Danes’ leveler. Kane struck a record-extending 64th goal for his country to fire England ahead in Frankfurt. But his loose pass then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from long range.



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In the other Group C game, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia against Slovenia.

England leads the group on four points and is likely to advance to the round of 16.