Sports
PH spikers settle for 8th place in Asian Games
LAST PLACE. The Philippines loses to Indonesia, 1-3, to finish eighth in the 18th Asian Games women’s volleyball competition in GOR Bulungan Gym inside the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday. (Photo by PSC Media Pool)
JAKARTA — The Philippines bowed to host Indonesia, 1-3 (17-25, 25-23, 19-25, 20-25), to finish last in the 18th Asian Games women’s volleyball competition at the GOR Bulungan Gym inside the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex here on Saturday.
Mylene Paat scored 10 points while Alyssa Valdez and Abigail Marano added nine and six points, respectively for the Nationals, who only managed to win one match — against Hong Kong — with a score of 25-18, 25-21, 25-21.
The victory against Hong Kong sent the Philippines to the quarterfinal round where they met powerhouse China.
Aprilia Santini Manganang topscored with 19 points, including three blocks, for the Indonesians, who wrapped up the match after one hour and 40 minutes.
Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah Sugandi contributed 12 points, while Amasya Angraini Manganang chipped in eight points.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos said the team has accomplished its mission.
“We came here with a very modest goal of making it into quarterfinals, so it’s still a mission accomplished for us,” said Delos Santos, adding that finishing in eighth place “is a strong booster for the country’s bid in next year’s 30th SEA Games”.
“We will not stop. We’re just starting the national team program. Our training and exposure in other major tournaments would definitely continue,” Delos Santos said.
After this tournament, the Nationals will compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Asian Cup to be held from Sept. 17 to 23 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
“Again, our hopes are high. I hope the team would carry all the lessons they gained here and show improvement when we face other Asian teams again in Thailand,” Delos Santos said.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan defeated Vietnam, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24), in the playoff for fifth and sixth places.
South Korea won the bronze medal after pulling off a 3-1 ( 25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 27-25) victory over Japan.
The gold medal will be contested by Thailand and China.
In the men’s category, Chinese Taipei downed Qatar, 3-1 ( 25-22, 25-23, 17-25, 25-16) to pocket the bronze medal.
South Korea and Iran will play in the gold medal match.
Indonesia and Japan will meet in the playoff for fifth and sixth places, while Thailand will face Pakistan in the playoff for the seventh and eighth places.
