PH women spikers fall to Indonesian again for another podium-less campaign

Tots Carlos leads Philippines’ effort against Indonesia in the battle for bronze. –SMM VOLLEYBALL

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine women’s volleyball team could not wake up from the nightmare that is Indonesia. 

Last year in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Indonesia pulled the bronze medal away from the Philippines.

This time in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the result stayed the same as the Indonesians beat the Filipino spikers in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, to deny them again of a podium finish Olympic Complex: Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

The Philippines, down 2-1, tried to mount a comeback in the fourth set behind the efforts of two-time Premier Volleyball League MVP Tots Carlos, but to no avail.

Indonesia lost composure midway in the final set, holding only a one point lead, 17-16, before Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi sparked a 7-5 run to bring the Indonesians to match point.

Carlos became the main woman for the Philippines in a comeback effort, tallying back-to-back kills to inch closer to a deciding set, 23-24.

Wilda Nurfadhilah Sugandi, however, slammed the door shut on the Philippines, sealing the podium finish appearance for the Indonesians once more.

The medal drought in the country’s women’s volleyball program at the SEA Games extended to 18 years, with the team’s last medal won in 2005.