Asian Games: Thailand overwhelms returning Philippines in women’s volleyball

Philippines’ Alyssa Valdez (L) hits the ball as Thailand’s Pimipichaya Kokram (C) and Hattaya Bamrungsuk (R) defend during their women’s Group A preliminary volleyball match between the Philippines and Thailand at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 19, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony WALLACE

JAKARTA—Talk about being welcomed back to the Asian Games the wrong way.

Regional power Thailand dealt the Philippine women’s volleyball team a sound beating on Sunday afternoon, scoring a 25-22, 25-12, 25-15 ripping of the Filipinos, who are playing in the Games for the first time in 36 years and clearly looked like they would need a lot of catching up to do.

Consistently finding holes in the Philippine defense while attacking with impunity and defending fluidly, the Thais just needed to shrug off a bum start before pulling away, with the second and third sets looking like a no-contest at GBK’s Indoor Tennis Courts here.

Coach Shaq delos Santos used all of his players in the Philippines’ first Asiad stint since 1982, giving everyone a feel of what it’s like and letting everyone know what kind of competition they need to overcome to be among the region’s elite.

“We need to experience (top level) tournaments like this,” Delos Santos said.

The Philippines got off to a strong start, taking a 9-2 lead before gradually losing steam from 21-all to lose the first set. The Filipinos won just 27 points in the next two sets to go down in just over 70 minutes.

Next up for Team Philippines is another rated side in Japan on Tuesday and the Filipinos have three more chances to book at least one win and make it to the next round.