Philippine volleybelles yield to Thais, crash out of AVC tiff

BINAN, Laguna – Team Philippines gave everything it got against reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Thailand but ended up falling short, 21-25, 14-25, 20-25, last night to kiss its semifinal hopes goodbye in the 19th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship at the Alonte Gym here.

The emphatic win sent the Thais, the 12-time SEAG champions and winners of the last two editions, straight to the semis versus the Koreans at 5:30 p.m.

The Filipinos, in contrast, was relegated into a round where they will have a chance to finish fifth place at best.

For it to happen, it will need to beat Chinese Taipei at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and the winner of the Kazakhstan-Vietnam showdown at 10 a.m. Thursday.

It was a sorry loss for the Nationals after pulling off a miraculous 27-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23 victory over SEAG silver medal winner Vietnam the day before.

Alyssa Valdez, who had nine points, said they used the game to gain experience.

“We knew Thailand is a strong team and we just want to learn from this game as we prepare for the SEA Games,” said Valdez.

Jovelyn Gonzaga paced the Philippines with 11 in her best effort here.

Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Chatchu-on Moksri led the Thais with 17 apiece while Wilavan Apinyapong chipped in 13.

Thailand captain Pleumjit Thinkaow, however, was impressed with the Nationals.

“Philippines is better than before, made us a little bit pressured. Their defense, system were very good,” said Thinkaow.

The Thais started out strong and took a 16-14 lead to start the game.

But the Filipinos fought their way back with Valdez firing kill after kill to snatch the lead twice, the last at 17-16.

Teenage sensation Chatchu-on Moksri responded by unloading three straight points — a kill, a block and another spike — to help Thailand retake the lead, 19-17.

It was all the Thais needed to regain its bearing and take the opening set.

The Thais sustained the momentum of their strong push late in the first set and dominated the second set when they never really gave the Nationals a chance.

The Phl made a late push in the third set and kept close with Thailand, 14-16, with Valdez and Jovelyn Gonzaga doing most of the damage.

But the Thais just had all the answers to take the last set and the match.