VitrA outlasts Pomi, keeps crown; F2 eighth and last

MANILA, Philippines – Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul turned back a gritty Pomi Casalmaggiore, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11, last night to reassert its claim as vollleyball’s undisputed queen in the finale of the  2016 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship late last night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Russian Tatiana Kosheleva fired 23 hits including 18 on spikes and four on service aces while Serbian Tijana Boskovic uncorked 17 points to lead the Turkish club to its second straight championship before a sizeable crowd of cheering Filipino fans.

Eczacibasi scored the last three points of the match including a drop by American Jordan Larson and an ace by team skipper Demir Neslihan to complete its title conquest of this week-long tournament.

Samanta Fabris paced Pomi with 22.

Bangkok Glass foiled PSL F2 Logistics Manila’s bid for a big finish, hammering out a 25-16, 25-23, 25-20 victory in their duel for seventh place.

Ashley Frazier fired 12 hits while Thidarat Phengvechai and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa chipped in 11 points apiece as the Southeast Asian powerhouse sent the hosts reeling to their fifth straight loss and last place in the eight-team tournament.

After yielding the first two sets, including the tightly fought second frame, F2 coach Moro Branislav fielded in an all-Filipino crew made up of Jaja Santiago, Kim Fajardo, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Mika Reyes, skipper Rachel Ann Daquis, Frances Molina and libero Jen Reyes.

The combination put up a tough stand but just couldn’t neutralize their rivals’ superior firepower and solid defense upfront.

Santiago led F2 with 11 points.

Earlier, VakifBank bounced back from a second set defeat and dominated Volero Zurich in the next two, scoring a 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11 victory to bag the bronze medal.

The Turkish squad, which won the gold medal in 2013, used its balanced attack and a solid defensive wall to contain the Volero side and claim third place in the week-long championship which lured eight of the world’s top clubs.

Rexona-Sesc Rio wore down Hisamitsu Springs Kobe in the decider, hacking out a 20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 30-32, 15-7 decision to finish fifth.

Sloetjes, the star player of the Dutch national team, delivered 16 kills while Serbian Milena Rasic had seven of her 15 points off the blocks.