MANILA – Rebisco-Philippines men’s volleyball team ended its campaign in the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at ninth place.
The national men’s volleyball team finally tasted a win in the week-long tournament via a 25-14, 22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-11 escape over CEB Sports Club of Sri Lanka on Wednesday night at the Terminal 21 Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Joshua Umandal spearheaded the offense anew for the Team Philippines with 28 points, built on 20 attacks, five blocks and three service aces. John Vic De Guzman and Nico Almendras contributed 11 points apiece.
Kim Malabunga and Francis Saura feasted on the blocking department for the national volleyball squad as they combined for 10 swats to finish the game with 10 markers apiece.
After trading leads to start the first set, Rebisco-Philippines pulled away with a 12-4 run capped by three straight hits from Umandal to handily take the set from Sri Lankans, 25-14.
The Philippines were on top, 21-20, in the second set but the Sri Lankans netted four straight points to reach set point. A quick kill from Malabunga, however, halted that run before CEB Sports Club closed the game with an off-the-block hit.
Rebisco-Philippines quickly recovered from the second set debacle and surged to a 7-2 advantage in the third set before running away completely, 25-18, to move a set away from the win.
CEB countered with a strong game in the fourth set for a 24-18 advantage. Rebisco-Philippines netted three straight points before the Sri Lankan’s forced a fifth set with a booming hit.
Rebisco-Philippines set the tone in the fifth frame before clinging to a 13-11 lead. An error by CEB Sports Club moved the Philippines to match point before Umandal ended the match with an off-the-block hit.
Sanka Dilshan Jayarathna and Vidura Perera carried the fight for the winless CEB Sports Club with 18 and 17 points, respectively. The Sri Lankans ended the competition at 10th and last place./PN
