Indonesia thwarts PH ladies’ upset plans

Members of the women’s volleyball team head back to the bench after the loss to Indonesia. —MARC ANTHONY REYES

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand—A resilient Indonesia side took advantage of a momentary lapse by the Philippines in the fifth set to forge a 25-21, 26-28, 12-25, 25-18, 15-9 victory Thursday at the start of the Asean Volleyball Grand Prix.

Just when the Filipinos thought they got their groove after taking the second and third frames, the Indonesians, missing key player Aprilia Manganang, crept back into the match.

“We are still happy with the way we played, we made key adjustments in the second set. Unfortunately in the fourth we slowed down,” said national coach Shaq Delos Santos.

He said the fifth-set breakdown reflected the team’s lack in experience of playing together.

“We need this tuneup event, we need more games like this. For me, we only need just a little more fine-tuning but otherwise I can say the team has what it takes to win,” he added.

The Philippines will battle Thailand on Saturday at 3 p.m., Manila time.

Nuari Purnama Arsela and Magawati Pertiwi punished the Philippines with their power moves especially in the opening set, putting the Nationals on their feet at Terminal 21 Mall courts.

But Majoy Baron started deflecting enemy missiles in the second set, allowing Kalei Mau, Ces Molina, Mylene Paat and Maddie Madayag to slowly pile up the much-needed points in the extended frame.

With the Indonesians looking spent, the Filipinos took the third set with ease and looked poised to score the win in the fourth.

Arsela and Pertiwi didn’t allow that to happen.

Instead, they got their second wind while teammates Ratri Wulandri and Agustin Wulandari began hitting their mark to turn the tables on the Filipinos.

Indonesia took a 7-2 lead in the fifth and that marked the beginning of the end for the Filipinos.