AWCC: Bohai Bank of China keeps Rebisco PSL-Manila winless

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UST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan — Rebisco PSL-Manila absorbed its third straight defeat, this time at the hands of Tianjin Bohai Bank of China, relegating the Filipinos Saturday to fifth to eighth places in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championships here.

Despite the hours spent Friday night training specifically in shielding the Chinese missiles, the Filipinos found themselves in the firing line of a Tianjin side determined to pile up points and move up to the next round.

Tianjin, a 10-time club champion in the Chinese League which fell to Hisamitsu Springs, overpowered Rebisco, 25-8, 25-10, 25-9, to bolster its title bid in the Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace here.

Rebisco, whose core forms the newly built national team, will take on another powerhouse team in Supreme of Thailand on Monday at the start of the Classification phase.

“I believe in this team. I know that we have what it takes to win. But we need to learn more especially in playing in international level,” said national team head coach Francis Vicente.

Tianjin went all out for the match, using only its first six to ensure it comes out with full potency, unleashing 44 attacks against only 19 from Rebisco.

Jaja Santiago scored eight, while Jovelyn Gonzaga added six for Rebisco which tried to take on the Chinese head-on power for power, something that backfired against the club that is only getting used to playing together.

But Tianjin, led by the furious attacks of Yu JunWei who made 18, even had better defense, deflecting seven, while Rebisco could only make one block throughout.

The Chinese club also had nine services aces to strike fear among Filipino receivers. Yao Di tossed 41 excellent sets as three other Chinese came up with double-digit performances.