The Philippine team forms a huddle during their match vs Vietnam. Screengrabed from SEA Games 2015’s YouTube account.
SINGAPORE—The Philippines played its swan song in the women’s volleyball tournament in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, losing to powerhouse Vietnam in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23, on Saturday.
Despite the encouragement of the Filipino fans who trooped to the OCBC Arena Hall 2 every game day, the Filipinas were just no match against the Vietnamese who were mechanical in the first two sets and hardly flinched when the Nationals tried to mount a comeback in the third.
It was a sorry turn of events for Jaja Santiago who punctuated the Filipinas’ inspired run in the third set.
Santiago’s wide attack gave the Vietnamese the match point and her succeeding attack went straight to the Vietnam defense.
The Philippines will thus end its first SEAG campaign in 10 years with a 1-2 record in women’s. Vietnam and Indonesia will join the qualifiers from the other pool Thailand and host Singapore in the semifinal round.
The men’s team, at 1-1, was to face powerhouse Thailand on Sunday to cap its preliminary round.
READ: 1st win in 10 years: PH sweeps Malaysia in 2015 SEA Games women’s volleyball
Alyssa Valdez topscored with 11 points, while Santiago finished with 10. Rachel Anne Daquis chipped in eight markers, while Dindin Manabat and Jovelyn Gonzaga fired seven and six points, respectively.
PH coach Roger Gorayeb said he still takes pride in his team which he “wished was formed one or two years ago.”
“Our goal was to make the semis but we didn’t accomplish it, but the experience we have it’s a big thing for us,” added the mentor.
Vietnam’s Thi Minh Do led all scorers with her 13 kills.
He stressed that the Philippines, despite the short period of preparation due to the players’ conflicting club league schedules, did well in the tourney.
“The scores weren’t that bad,” he said.
The Philippines committed 32 errors against Vietnam’s 16 which is a testament to the players’ unfamiliarity with one another as they come from different leagues and clubs from the Philippine Superliga and the Shakeys V-League.
The country dropped its first game against Indonesia (25-22, 25-20, 25-14) which was led by Aprilla Manganang who was subjected to gender inquiry by the Philippine team that was later dismissed by the organizers.
READ: Indonesia sweeps PH in SEA Games 2015 women’s volley opener
It posted its lone win at the expense of winless Malaysia, 25-15, 25-18, 25-16. IDL