Phl tossers lose steam, bow to Indons

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines failed to sustain a fine start and took another straight set setback, this time to Indonesia, 20-25, 19-25, 22-25, to close out its Asian Southeastern Zone Women’s Volleyball qualifier campaign with a 1-2 card in Quang Tri, Vietnam late Sunday.

The Phl, which also lost in three to fancied Vietnam in the opener Friday but defeated Myanmar in four sets Saturday, finished third in the four-team event which served as the qualifier for the Asian Zonals. The Viets took the lone slot with a 3-0 sweep.

Still, it was a good showing by the Phl, which made its first appearance in international volley play in a long, long while. The squad, sponsored by Smart Communications and Accel, was assembled just one week before the event to honor its commitment to play in the event sanctioned by the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia yesterday said the team will be disbanded after the Vietnam meet.

“Just what I’ve said before they left, the team will be disbanded upon their return,” said Garcia. “In the first place, we didn’t know if their mother schools, including National U and Ateneo, will still allow their players to play.”

“The team, though, exceeded expectations because I was expecting the worst. Under those circumstances, they did well,” said Garcia.

Inspired by their four-set victory over the Burmese, the POC-PSC Sports V-Belles, led by sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago of NU and Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez, wrested control early in the first set, pouncing on their rivals’ shaky start for an 8-2 lead. They held sway at 16-11 but failed to neutralize the Indonesians’ fightback.

The Pinay spikers, who also included Maika Ortiz and Rhea Dimaculangan of UST, Iari Yongco of La Salle-Dasmariñas, and NU’s Jennylyn Reyes, Myla Pablo and Rubie de Leon, Adamson’s Pau Soriano, Jheck Dionela of Perpetual Help and Suzanne Roces, kept the game close in the second frame, 7-8, and 13-16, but the Indonesians put on another strong finishing kick to go 2-0. 

The Filipinas, handled by coaches Roger Gorayeb of Ateneo and NU’s Edjet Mabbayad and Ariel dela Cruz, refused to give up in the third and led, 8-4 and 16-14. But like in the first two sets, the Filipinas failed to sustain their charge and yielded 11 of the next 17 points.

Dindin Santiago topscored with 14 hits while Jaja Santiago held her ground and chipped in 11 points and Ortiz and Valdez added 10 and nine markers, respectively. Dimaculangan had two while Yongco finished with one hit.