Rexona-Sesc Rio vs PSL F2-Logistics Manila. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Rexona-Sesc Rio showed its championship pedigree and made quick work of hosts PSL-F2 Logistics Manila, 25-15, 25-13, 25-20, in its first game in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The South American champions relied on a balanced scoring to take down the jittery hosts.
Anne Bujis and Ana Carolina Da Silva had 13 points apiece to lead Rexona-Sesc while Gabi and Monique added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Rexona-Sesc head coach Bernardo Rezende admitted he was worried about facing PSL-F2 Logistics, a team that was formed for less than a month before the tournament, since he did now know how the hosts played.
“We are very worried because we had no information on the players so we focused and we served well and the block was okay,” said Rezende.
When PSL-F2 Logistics took a brief 14-7 lead in the third set, Rezende said he was impressed with how the hosts performed and told his team to fight back to get the momentum.
“The Philippine team is playing at this level for the first time, and I like their fighting spirit… we had to fight back hard.”
PSL-F2 Logistics, surprisingly, had the same number of scoring spikes as Rexona-Sesc with 35 but it was in the defense department the South American champions took control.
The Brazilian club had 15 blocks against PSL-F2 Logistics’s four while also registering nine service aces.
American import Stephanie Niemer led the hosts with 13 points while Ukrainian reinforcement Yevgeniya Nyukhalova added eight. Jaja Santiago and Kim Fajardo combined for six points.
The Filipinos next game is on Thursday against Pomi Casalmaggiore of Italy, which was earlier swept by reigning titlist Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul.