Croatia 2026 represents just the second IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship for the Philippines after qualifying for the first time two years ago, for China 2024.

Impressively, the Asian nation has reached the main round on both occasions, two years ago beating Australia and China 2-0 in the preliminary group to make it through to the second stage where they ended up losing to Spain, Argentina and Croatia 2-0.

Ahead of Croatia 2026, Philippines head coach Joanna Franquelli told ihf.info that the goal of her team was to at least qualify for the quarter-finals and if not, then be the highest-ranked team from Asia.

With Benin withdrawing from the competition and their preliminary group clash awarded 2-0 in the Philippines’ favour, the Asian silver medallists had already booked their place in the main round from, despite losing clearly to Denmark and Argentina in their other games in preliminary group D.

And with Vietnam crashing out of preliminary group A after losing to Uruguay, Franquelli’s wish of being the highest-ranked from Asia was granted.

 

But their main round campaign would not be easy right from very beginning as they faced the might of Brazil in their opening game – a team which had won all three of their preliminary group games against Norway, USA and Greece, and who feature a number of players who have world championship medals in their closet from a rich history of three golds, one silver and three bronzes, plus the championship top-scorer in Beatriz Correia going into the second stage.

The first set went the way of the South American side, who are the current Beach Handball Global Tour title-holders, Brazil winning 26:14 after the Philippines had taken an early 4:2 lead.

But the second went the other way as the Philippines closed down a 6:2 deficit in the second minute to go ahead 12:6 in the fifth, extending their lead to eight points (20:12) in the eighth minute, causing a Brazilian time out.

As expected, the South Americans came out fighting after the pause, but the Asian side deployed a single point tactic, replying to Brazilian strikes with three, consecutive goals to take it to a shoot-out.

First, Correia hit the Philippine post and then Mateo Zhalyn missed from distance, but the next three shots from each time were then scored. However, with Brazil’s fifth shot, Renata Santiago shot wide, giving Philippines captain Aurora Adriano the chance for another single point – this time to win the game, and she delivered the ball into the South American net.

“We're just so happy that we won against Brazil. Everybody knows they're the favourites to win against us but we just won,” said an emotional Franquelli straight after the game, who found it hard to find the words to describe what had just happened.

“We were just patient, patient with our executions. In the end, it could have gone either way, but we got the breaks – I told the girls to never give up. You know, everyone, every team, goes into games with this hope and we just did our part – we studied their game, we looked at their tendencies, and we executed very well. I told them to be more aggressive and get into the game, because it's their game; it's not a coach's game, it's a player's game and they responded. I'm so happy and so proud of the girls.”

Despite Franquelli praising her players, the confidence instilled in her team through her coaching and tactics shone through in those final, closing minutes of the second set when she deployed the single-point strategy.

 

At 20:16 ahead and in possession, the first single point set-up was triggered, Josephine Ong slotting home (21:16). Brazil then returned the goal (21:18), Zhalyn took the next single point (22:18), Brazil answered back again (22:20) and then Zhalyn sealed the set win (23:20), allowing Santiago a consolation two points at the end of regulation time.

“Back in Manila, we always practice this same situation with the pressure,” explained Adriano about the single-point tactics. “But even then, we had to stay composed with the game and focus, which we did and were able to play our game. We prepared for this competition so much before we got here, and we are grateful because we were able to execute our offence and defence, and the same with the goalkeepers – then we became effective and that's why we won this game.”

And for Adriano, leading a team with a number of debutants, she is well-aware that the moment must be enjoyed, but there is more work to do.

“Some of our players are new, and we’re adjusting, but we're glad that we are gelling together in this competition, and were able to execute in this game,” she said. “Yes, we have to enjoy this moment, enjoy the win, but we have to focus on our next games.”