FILE- Philippine men’s beach volleyball team. AVC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams were both relegated to the battle for bronze after absorbing heartbreaking defeats to Thailand on Thursday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at Tuan Chau Beach in Vietnam.
The men’s volleyball team fell short against Thailand as Jaron Requinton and Jude Garcia lost to Jongklang Surin and Nakprakhong Banlue in the golden match, 18-21, 18-21.
Thailand battles defending champion Indonesia, which swept Vietnam in the other semifinal series, for the gold medal.
The duo of Surin and Banlue beat Garcia and Krung Arbasto in the first match, 22-20, 21-14.
Requinton and Ranran Abdilla forced the decider with a 21-19, 21-13 win over Taovato Poravid and Tipjan Pithak.
It was the Philippines’ first defeat after sweeping Pool A. The Filipino Spikers will be relegated to the battle for third against Vietnam on Friday at 10:45 a.m. for a chance to retain their previous finish in the 2019 SEA Games.
FILE–Philippine women’s beach volleyball team. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Meanwhile, the women’s national team got swept by Thailand as it finished 3-2 in the preliminary round.
Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons yielded to Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Kongphopsarutawadee Worapeerachayakorn, 20-22, 15-21.
Jovelyn Gonzaga and Dij Rodriguez failed to force a rubber match after losing to Varapatsorn Radarong and Tanarattha Udomchavee, 18-21, 15-21.
Thailand seeks to complete its title-retention bid against Indonesia in the winner-take-all final.
The women’s national team takes on Vietnam, a squad it beat on Wednesday, for the bronze after the men’s division’s battle for third.