Philippines loses to Thailand in Asean Grand Prix opener

Philippines’ Tots Carlos goes for a hit vs Thailand in the Asean Grand Prix. –SMM VOLLEYBALL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women’s volleyball team started its 2022 Asean Grand Prix campaign off the wrong foot as it yielded to defending champion Thailand, 25-17, 25-22, 25-12, on Friday at Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Pimpichaya Kokram led the Thais’ onslaught with 17 points, while Ajcharaporn Kongyot proved to be a thorn in the side of the Filipinos as she scored three of the team’s six straight points to erase a 19-22 deficit in the second set en route to a 2-0 lead and closed out their 13-point win in the third to triumph in one hour and 25 minutes.

Wipawee Srithong was also instrumental in the win, scoring six of her 10 points in the first set to set the pace for the reigning champion. Sasipaporn Janthawisut and Kannika Thipachot chipped in six points each, while Kongyot and Kaewkalaya Kamulthala added five each.

Setter Pornpun Guedpard provided the brilliant plays as Thailand nailed 46 kills against the Philippines’ 27 to kick off their bid for a third straight Asean Grand Prix title after ruling the first two legs in 2019.

Tots Carlos propelled the national team, composed of the Creamline Cool Smashers, with 11 points, nailing 10 attacks and a block, while Jema Galanza showed a valiant effort in the second set, where she scored five of her eight points.

Team captain Jia De Guzman and Co., who finished sixth in the AVC Cup for Women two weeks ago, try to bounce back against Vietnam on Saturday at 4 p.m. (Manila time) in the three-day tournament, where the squad with the best record will win the gold.

Earlier, Vietnam leaned on Tran Thi Thanh Thuy’s 20-point effort to sweep Indonesia, 25-23, 25-19, 25-9.

Defending champion Thailand in Asean Grand Prix. –SMM VOLLEYBALL PHOTO

The Philippines put up a gallant stand in the second set with a 4-1 start and led as many as four, 20-16, before Gumabao and Galanza committed back-to-back errors followed by Kamulthala’s ace to cut it down to one, 20-19.

Galanza restored the order, nailing back-to-back kills, 22-19. But Kongyot answered with two consecutive kills, followed by Kokram’s kill and back-to-back attack errors from Galanza and Carlos for the setpoint. Kongyot sealed the 6-0 run with a block on Jeanette Panaga to take the two-set lead.

The Thais overpowered the visitors in the third with a 10-4 start and built a 10-point advantage against the bench players of the latter, 21-11 before Kongyot put on the finishing touches.

Thailand eyes its second win against Indonesia on Saturday at 7 p.m. to assure at least a silver medal finish and move a win closer to another Asean Grand Prix title.

Alyssa Valdez, who is still regaining condition after a bout with dengue, cheered the Philippines on the sidelines with fellow reserve Lorie Bernardo and Philippine National Volleyball Federation national teams commission head Tonyboy Liao.