THE Philippines refused to go winless in its 6th AVC Asian Cup stint as it pounced on Kazakhstan, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, in a morale-boosting Pool C victory on Tuesday at the Chartchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
After heartbreaking meltdowns to Australia and Iran in their past two matches that shattered their quarterfinals hopes, the Filipinas knew how to close out a game this time as they even recovered from a third-set loss before finally finishing off the Kazakhs in the fourth set.
For a while, though, the Nationals saw the horrors of their past two games come back after winning the first two sets before failing to sweep the game in the third set.
The Kazakhs made a scary 14-11 start in the fourth set but the bench mob of Philippines composed by Grethcel Soltones, Risa Sato, Maika Ortiz and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas showed their worth leading that amazing comeback.
The bench players with the help of starters Alyssa Valdez and Mylene Paat stole the momentum scoring nine of the next 10 points for a 20-15 cushion. Soltones nailed two of the last five points and put the team at match point, 24-17, before Pontillas delivered the match-winning block.
The Nationals had another great start with a 10-5 in the opening set only for the Kazakhs to matched the intensity and tie it to 12-all that until it reached 22-apiece. Jia Morado nailed a smart drop to put Philippines on top, 23-22, followed by a crucial attack fault from Kazakhstan before Valdez soared over three blockers to hit the first set-clinching hit.
The Filipinas managed to carry the momentum in the second set with a 13-9 start and preserved it to 22-18 cushion off Cha Cruz-Behag’s kill but the Kazakhs used their height scoring three straight blocks to tie the deficit to one, 22-21. Mylene Paat stopped the bleeding for Philippines only to commit a service error, 23-22.
Alexandra Mechshaninova tied the set with an ace 23-all only to miss her second serve that gave the set point to their foes until the 5-foot-6 Morado blocked the 6-foot Mechshaninova to take a two-set lead.
The Philippines, however, struggled to close out the game anew as Kazakhstan dominated the third set with an 12-6 start and extended it to a 22-17 lead and never looked back to force another set, which the Filipinas managed to recover and muscle their way for the win.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
