Philippine spikers bow to tougher rivals

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines fell into a deeper hole yesterday with two teams absorbing similar defeats in the second day of the Spike for Peace International beach volley tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Alexa Micek and Charo Soriano of Phl Team A lost to Shauna Polley and Julia Tilley of New Zealand, 21-17, 21-10, while Danika Gendrauli and Norie Diaz of Phl Team B bowed to Akiko Hasegawa and Ayumi Kusano of Japan, 21-16, 21-11.

Now sporting identical 0-2 records, the Philippine squads must win their respective matches today then hope to make it to the quarterfinals of the indoor event put up by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The event which runs until Thursday drew teams from 12 countries. The winning pair brings home $8,000.

Micek and Soriano trooped to the makeshift sandcourt hoping to get back at Tilley and Polley, who beat the tanned Pinay pair in the semis of the Fit to Hit beach volley tournament last September at the SM Sands by the Bay.

Micek, a 24-year-old Fil-American, and Soriano, a former collegiate standout, kept the game close in the first set which featured a handful lead changes and a couple of deadlocks. After leading 7-6, the Pinay pair broke down and yielded the set, 21-17.

The second set belonged to the New Zealand tandem, which took comfortable leads at 8-3, 10-4, 12-6 and 14-8 before clinching the match at 21-10.

It was the first match for Tilley and Polley, who won the title in the Fit to Hit tournament. They are seeded fourth here.