Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara admitted that nerves got the better of them at times during their bronze medal match against China in the women's beach volleyball tournament of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
After dropping the opening set and seeing China reach match point in the succeeding frame, the pressure was certainly mounting on the Alas Pilipinas duo.
But in the end, courage and composure prevailed as Progella and Pagara fought back to secure a historic bronze medal for the Philippines, outlasting their Chinese opponents, 13-21, 23-21, 15-13, on Friday.
READ: Progella, Pagara complete comeback vs China to clinch Asiad bronze in women's beach volley
"Actually, 'yung first set, parang nandun 'yung kaba, naramdaman 'yung pressure na hindi madala 'yung sarili. But at the end of the game ng first set namin, parang tinulungan niya [Sofiah Pagara] din ako since parang ako din 'yung nawala," Progella shared. "Na-overcome lang din namin 'yung pressure and then 'yung mga lapses namin sa laro."
"Para sa akin po, nandun na po 'yung laro namin pero kailangan lang po namin dalhin 'yung sarili namin. Para sa akin, nakinig po ako sa payo ng coaches po namin at binasa ko po 'yung laro," Pagara added.
READ: Asiad: Progella, Pagara drop to bronze medal match after semis loss to Thais
Coming home with a podium finish, the duo was overjoyed to finally reap the rewards of their sacrifices.
"Sobrang happy po kasi ‘yun nga po, first time in the Philippines po na maka-podium tayo sa volleyball field. Walang ibang masasabi kundi super, super happy," Progella said.
"Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm po 'yung nangyari, like hindi po namin in-expect na ganito ‘yung nangyari pero trinabaho po namin kung ano po talaga ‘yung deserve namin kasi pinaghirapan po namin. Sobrang nakakatuwa, nakakataba ng puso po," Pagara said.