MANILA – The Philippines were not going home as total losers.
Filipina spikers ended their 6th Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women campaign on Saturday with a victory over Kazakhstan in Thailand 25-13, 23-25, 25-22, 17-25, 15-8.
Mylene Paat led with 18 points as Alyssa Valdez and Cha Cruz-Behag added 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Philippines to land on ninth place.
“It was not a bad performance, not at all,” said Philippines head coach Ceseal delos Santos, whose squad posed a threat to powerhouse teams Australia and Iran earlier in the event.
From a tight exchange early in the first set, the Philippines slowly pulled to a 20-11 advantage with hits from Paat and Valdez. Cruz-Behag then put on the finishing touches as they drew first blood in the game.
After dropping a close second set, the Philippines struggled early in the third before rising to a 13-8 lead. Kazakhstan rallied back to force a 20-all tie before Cruz-Behag scored 3 straight points for a 2-1 set edge.
But the Philippines were dragged to a fifth set where they made a slim 8-6 edge before slowly pulling away for good with Mika Reyes and Cruz-Behag taking turns on the offensive end.
Dinara Syzdykova and Diana Grokhotova finished with 16 points each while Zarina Sitkazinova and Ainagul Aizharikhova made 11 markers apiece for the 10th placer Kazakhstan./PN
