Filipino bets finish 5th in SEA beach volley tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines fell short against taller, more experienced rivals and wound up fifth in both women’s and men’s competitions in the Southeast Asian Beach Volleyball Championship that ended over the weekend in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Women’s bets Jusabelle Brillo and Apple Saraum, the shortest competitors in the field at 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-3, emerged victorious over Vietnam’s Hoz Mai Tai, a 6-foot-2 spiker, and Hong Loan Hyuh Do, but four other setbacks doomed their bid.

Brillo and Saraum bowed to Numwong Rumpaipruwet and Hongpak Kharitta of Thailand-2 in their opening match, 18-21, 18-21,  before pulling even with that win over Vietnam. They rounded out their elims campaign with setbacks to Laosangsa Ariya and Khantarakkijja of Thailand-3, 13-21, 16-21, and Utami Putu Dini Jacita and Juliana Dhita of Indonesia, 13-21, 9-21. 

They still had their shot at a semis berth but rammed into Thailand-1’s Radarong Varapatsorn and Udomchavee Tanaratta, Thailand’s World Tour veterans, and yielded a one-sided 9-21, 9-21 defeat to the eventual champions.

Men’s pair Jonrey Sasing and Edward Ybañez dropped all their assignments but not before engaging their rivals in three-set duels. 

Sasing, the shortest among the male bets at 5-foot-8, and Ybañez, the taller of the duo at 6-foot-2, fell to Vietnam-2’s Cau Son Tran Neoc and Ang Tuan Pham in 52 minutes, 17-21, 22-20, 15-12; succumbed to Thailand-1’s Sangkachot Sittichai and Sukto Prathip in 61 minutes, 21-14, 17-21, 15-12; and yielded to Thailand-2’s Kaewsai Dumwinit and Sukarayotin Chutipong in 46 minutes, 18-21, 21-19, 15-9.

“Of course I would have wanted to win but given the circumstances – we only had one week of preparations and we’re up against rivals who stand 6-5 and 6-6 - I’m satisfied,” said Phl coach Eric Lecain.

He mentioned that it was the “first time for the men’s team to actually play their rivals in almost one hour.” Previously, he said, it took just 20 to 30 minutes for their opponents to prevail.

The tourney served as alternative to the SEA Games following the host’s decision to scrap beach volleyball competitions in Myanmar.