THE Philippines opened its campaign in the Asian Southeastern Zone Women’s World Championship qualifier on a losing note as region powerhouse Vietnam overwhelmed the Filipinas in straight sets Friday night in Quang Tri Vietnam.
The hastily-formed team composed of a selection of Shakey’s V-League players, was outclassed in its first game overseas, 25-9, 25-11, 25-18, by a Vietnamese side that has been a perennial silver medalist in the Southeast Asian Games.
Team manager Tony Boy Liao admitted that first-game jitters affected the team and the host was just a tough team to beat.
Liao also noted the Vietnamese are not as tall as the Filipinas, but their experience in international play was very obvious during the game.
“Vietnam was very strong and prepared. (We were) very inexperienced and tensed,” said Liao in an SMS message to Spin.ph.
The amiable team official added Jaja Santiago, Alyssa Valdez, and Myla Pablo played well for the Philippines and held their own against their Vietnamese counterparts.
The Filipinas hope to bounce back Saturday when they take on Myanmar, before finishing their campaign against Indonesia on Sunday.
The Filipinas were able to close in at 12-16 during the third set, but the Vietnamese were not to be denied and completed a sweep.
The top team in the Southeast Asian zone will move to the Asian qualifiers where four slots will be at stake in the 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championships in Italy.
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