PH tossers bow to Tianjin, suffer 3rd straight loss

Rebisco PSL Manila Spikers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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 the battle for fifth to eighth places in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship here.

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

Tianjin, a 10-time champion in the Chinese Volleyball League, overpowered Rebisco, 25-8, 25-10, 25-9, to bolster its title bid at 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,” said national team head coach Francis Vicente. “I know that we have what it takes to win. But we need to learn more especially in playing in international level.”

Jaja Santiago scored eight, while Jovelyn Gonzaga added six for Rebisco.