Volleybelles collapse anew, lose to Iranians

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines suffered yet another meltdown, this time, against Iran, 29-27, 16-25, 25-17, 12-25, 13-15, in the 6th AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup Monday night at the Chartchai Gym in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand.

Alyssa Valdez and Mylene Paat carried the cudgels, but their heroics were not enough as the Filipinas stumbled in the crucial stretch of the deciding set to absorb another painful setback.

The Nationals also blew up a two-set lead en route to a sorry five-set defeat to Australia in the opener, 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 16-25, 10-15.

With back-to-back losses, the Nationals formally bombed out of contention as Iran and Australia, which registered a 21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12 win over Kazakhstan will march to the quarterfinals.

They will wrap up their campaign in the group stage against Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Valdez finished 22 kills, an ace and a block for 24 points while Paat had 10 markers for the Philippines, which is missing the services of main gunner Jaja Santiago as well as blocker Dindin Manabat, main libero Dawn Macandili and chief setter Kim Fajardo.

With Valdez and Paat at the helm, the Nationals kicked off the third set with an 18-7 advantage before going cold, allowing the Iranians to chew the lead to a manageable four points, 16-20.

Paat and Aby Marano stopped the bleeding with back-to-back blocks before Valdez nailed the match-clinching hit to seal the third set win and erect a 2-1 lead. But that was the final stand of the Filipinas.

The Iranians, behind the impressive performance of Mahsa Kadkhoda and skipper Maedah Borhani, waxed hot to clinch the fourth set, 25-12.

It was all Iran from there as it fortified its defense, leaving the Philippine struggling for form.

Kadkhoda finished with game-high 19 kills and five blocks for 30 points while Borhani had 18 markers for the Iranians, who bullied the Filipinos at the blocking and service departments with 15 blocks and 10 aces.