Filipinas succumb to tough Japanese

MANILA, Philippines -  Rebisco PSL Manila held its own in the first set but succumbed to Hisamitsu Springs of Japan’s power and absorbed a 17-25, 10-25, 14-25 setback at the start of the Asian Women’s Club Championships at Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan yesterday.

Jaja Santiago scored 16 points while Kim Fajardo added four hits and 11 excellent sets for the Filipinas tuning up for the SEA Games in Malaysia this August.

Ces Molina, Rhea Dimaculangan and Jovelyn Gonzaga finished with three points each while Mika Reyes and Rachel Anne Daquis scored two points apiece, and Aiza Pontillas had one point.

Rebisco had 18 errors, mostly on attacks, with head coach Francis Vicente noting the team lacked speed and coordination which Hisamitsu, the 2002 and 2014 champion team, pounced in to complete the straight-set victory.

“You learned from them. You didn’t play badly. We just need more speed. More volleyball IQ. You got the Japanese coach worried in the first set. Be proud,” said Vicente, whose team’s campaign is sponsored by Asics, Grand Sport and Turkish Airlines.

The Filipinas got the Japanese fired up with Santiago’s unstoppable forays in addition to Fajardo’s dumps.

But Hisamitsu soon caught up on the plays and made the lanes impenetrable with highly organized floor defense.

Middle blocker Fumika Moriya topscored for Japan club with 14 points, while Yuka Taura and Yuka Imamura chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Erika Sakae tossed 33 excellent sets to set Hisamitsu’s offense flowing and wreaking havoc  against Rebisco.

Rebisco PSL-Manila will next face Vietnam, one of the toughest teams in the SEA Games, on Friday at 11:30 a.m. (1:30 p.m. Manila time).