MANILA – Negrense volleyball players Jayrack De La Noche and Alexander Iraya bowed out of the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships after losing to Iranians Amir Reza Zamani and Armin Kami on Monday at the Nakhon Pathom in Thailand.
The duo from Victorias City, Negros Occidental, failed to advance to the crossover quarterfinals round after sustaining a 21-12, 21-16 loss from the foe.
At the onset of the match, the Iranians aggressively stunned the Philippine representatives to post an 11-4 lead. Dela Noche and Iraya attempted to even the score, but Zamani and Kami went on with their onslaught to own the set.
The Negrense duo tried to bounce back in the second set with an 11-14 score, but the Iranians showed persistence to complete the straight-set triumph.
Last Sunday, Dela Noche and Iraya have a rough international competition debut after being beaten by Thailand-1’s Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha, 18-21, 15-21.
The no. 8 seed Dela Noche and Iraya gave the top-seeded Thais everything they have in the opening set and even led, 15-13, before the hosts recovered their bearing with solid plays.
The Negrenses kept the game close in the second set before Netitorn and Wachirawit pulled away with a 17-12 advantage to seize the win.
Despite the loss, the two vowed that they will do their best in their upcoming tournament as they are set to represent the country to the Fourth Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships, a qualifier for the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships, slated on July 12 in Thailand.
“Pasensya na po at hindi kami nanalo. Binigay naman namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya against Thailand and Iran,” said Iraya. “Babawi po kami.”/PN
