The Philippines’ Steve Rotter, center, is named Best Opposite Hitter in the first leg of the Southeast Asia V-League. AVC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine men’s volleyball team rising star Steven Rotter was awarded as the Best Opposite Hitter of the Southeast Asia (SEA) V-League 1st leg on Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Amid the heartbreaking 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 23-25, 10-15 collapse to Vietnam, Rotter emerged as the silver lining in the national team’s winless three-game campaign after being part of the mythical team.
The Filipino-American opposite spiker, who was acquired by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation before the 32nd SEA Games, played his best game for the national team with 28 points built on 26 attacks, one ace, and a block only to blow a two-set lead and end up last in the four-team field.
Rotter, who played his third competition for the Philippines after the biennial meet in Cambodia and Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup for Men in Taiwan, averaged 19.0 points in the three-day leg.
Fahry Septian Putratama of Indonesia emerged as the MVP of the first leg as they became the maiden champions of the SEA V-League, outlasting Thailand, 21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 27-25, in the final for a perfect campaign.
Thailand settled for second place absorbing its only loss in the first leg at the hands of Indonesia but it had three individual awardees with Phanram Anurak winning the 1st Best Outside Hitter, Nilsawai Kissada earning the 1st Best Middle Blocker, and Charoensuk Tanapat being the Best Libero.
Besides Septian, Indonesian Farhan Halim nabbed the 2nd Best Outside Spiker and his teammate Hendra Kurniawan became the 2nd Best Middle Blocker, while Vietnam’s Dinh Van Duy got the Best Setter.
The Philippines, which brought home $10,000, seeks to bounce back when it hosts the second leg from July 28 to 30 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.