INQUIRER Sports

SOUTH KOREA, working behind rock-solid blocking and quick combination plays, cut down to size a taller and younger Australian squad in four sets Wednesday to boost its quarterfinal hopes in the 15th Asian Senior men’s volleyball championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Koreans, who have ruled this event four times, prevailed, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, in one hour and 36 minutes for their third consecutive victory and the solo lead in Pool D, considered as the tournament’s “Group of Death.”

The Koreans kept the Aussies guessing with a variety of quick middle attacks to send the reigning champions to their first defeat in four games.

In Pool C, Iran made quick work of Vietnam, 25-21, 25-10, 25-17, in an impressive followup to its five-set upset of China Tuesday.

Impressive in their 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-6 victory over the Chinese, the Iranians, cheered on by a group of about 200 Manila-based compatriots, had little trouble with the Vietnamese, who bowed out of quarterfinal contention following the loss.

Iran streaked to the top of the group with a 3-0 record followed by the Chinese at 3-1.

Japan overpowered Thailand, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21, to join Indonesia on top with a 2-0 record in Pool B.

The top two teams from each group will be bracketed together in the quarterfinals.

Host Philippines, in danger of missing out on a slot to the next round following two straight losses, tries to stay in contention against Chinese-Taipei in its last Pool A match at 6 tonight.

“We have a fighting team and I think the players won’t give up this easily,” said RP coach Sammy Acaylar.