Pinays bow to Kazakhs, take 8th spot

BIÑAN, Laguna, Philippines – Kazakhstan blew a two-set lead but unleashed its full might in the decider to frustrate Team Philippines, 25-20, 25-16, 21-25, 21-25, 15-3, and clinch seventh place in the 19th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship at the Alonte Gym here yesterday.

Yekatarina Zhdanova came away with 24 hits while Katerina Tatko, skipper Radmila Beresneva and Alla Bogdashkina chipped in 15, 14 and 14 markers, respectively, as the Kazakhs repeated over the Nationals, whom they swept in the elims of the nine-day tournament.

Japan battled back from two sets down then outplayed 12-time SEA Games champion Thailand in the decider to hack out a 26-28, 20-25. 25-16, 25-16, 15-7 victory and bag the gold medal.

Jaja Santiago fired 18 points while Alyssa Valdez and Jovelyn Gonzaga banged in 11 and 10 hits, respectively, as the hosts settled for eighth place, matching its finish in 1983 in Vietnam.

The Nationals, who pulled off a shock 27-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23 victory over 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Vietnam in the classification phase of the quarterfinals Monday, also nailed a berth in the 2018 AVC Asia Cup.

Their stint against the region’s best is also expected to boost their confidence and improve their play when they slug it out with the regional rivals in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, which starts Saturday.

“We learned a lot from this tournament and we hope to improve more in the SEA Games,” said Valdez.

Meanwhile, libero Dawn Macandili, one of the two alternates in the SEAG-bound squad, hopes to gain a spot in the regular team after a spectacular performance in the Asian Senior.