Power Pinays continue slump, succumb to Kazakhs

MANILA, Philippines – PLDT Home TVolution Philippines suffered its third straight defeat, losing to Zhetyssu Almaty Kazakhstan, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21, that dealt a big blow to its quarterfinal hopes in the 2014 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Sunday.

Several days after waylaying KSEB India, 25-17, 26-24, 25-16, the Power Pinoys went on a downward spiral as they fell to Tianjin Bohai Bank China, 25-15,  25-16, 25-17, Taipei City, 25-15, 25-12, 25-11, one after the other to absorb its third straight defeat.

The loss sent the Phl sliding to a share of fourth spot with the winner of the KSEB India-Singapore showdown at press time with 1-3 (win-loss) records.

The Filipinos though could clinch the last of the four berths staked in Group B if they could hurdle the Singaporeans at 3 p.m. (Phl time) Monday.

In contrast, the victory catapulted Kazakhstan straight to the next round along with Tianjin Bohai Bank China and Taipei City, who have clinched the first two quarters slots after sweeping their first three games.

Hisamitsu Springs Japan, Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand, Matin Varamin Iran and Lien Viet Post Bank Vietnam have all qualified for the quarters regardless of the results of their Group A matches after Turkmenistan pulled out at the last minute.

The Power Pinays are hoping to match, if not surpass, their male counterparts’ strong seventh place finish in the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship presented by PLDT Home Fibr at the MOA Arena in Pasay a couple of days back.