FILE–Philippine women’s volleyball team in the SEA VLeague. –PH VOLLEYBALL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—When it comes to getting a podium finish, Indonesia seems to always be a thorn in the Philippines’ side. That includes the Southeast Asian (SEA) VLeague.
The Indonesians kept the Philippine national women’s volleyball team winless with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-2 sweep in Leg 1 of the SEA VLeague in Vietnam on Sunday.
The win sealed the Indonesians’ bronze medal in the Vin Phuc leg as the Philippines crashed to fourth place after losing all of its three assignments.
Down 2-0, the Philippines tried to claw back and force a decider in the third set.
The Vietnamese led by a measly point, 20-19, before Alyssa Solomon converted a successful tip-in to bring the set to a 20-all deadlock.
However, coach Norman Miguel’s wards kept their eyes off the ball, giving Indonesia a chance to retaliate and close the gap.
Hany Budiarti scored on a kill which began a game-ending 5-1 run to hand the Philippines its third straight loss in the SEA V-League.
Indonesia denying the Philippines a podium seat isn’t something new in women’s volleyball.
The same nightmare keeps playing like a broken record for the Nationals as the Indonesians did the same thing in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games earlier this year.
The Indonesians defeated the Philippines, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to take the third place finish, leaving the Nationals empty-handed.