Team Philippines spikers bow out, lose to Iranians in 5

MANILA, Philippines — Dragged into another tense-filled endgame, Team Philippines battled back from three down late in the fifth to draw level at 13 but lost its poise again and dropped a 29-27, 16-25, 25-17, 12-25, 13-15 setback to Iran in the AVC Asian Cup at the Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand yesterday.

Aby Maraño and Mika Reyes kept the Phl’s within, 7-10, with key hits before Mylene Paat scored after a long rally then Alyssa Valdez unleashed two power hits as the Pinay spikers pulled abreast at 13 on Mahsa Kadkhoda’s service miscue.

But top hitter Maedeh Borhani hammered in a kill and came through with an equally power hit that the Filipinas failed to return, enabling the Iranians to escape with the victory in a follow-up to their 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 15-6 triumph over the Kazakhs last Sunday.

The loss was the Phl’s second straight following a 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 16-25, 10-15 defeat to the Australians, also last Sunday, booting the Pinays out of the quarterfinal race.

They play the Kazakhs at 5 p.m. today in the Challenge Cup.