PH volleybelles drop to 0-3 in Asian Club Championships

The Philippine Women’s Volleyball team succumbed to a slew of stinging setbacks in the 2011 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball championship in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam.

Also known as Team Shakey’s Philippines, the volleybelles absorbed their third straight assignment Tuesday at the hands of Kensyokai Red Hearts of Japan, 16-25, 18-25, 13-25.

It was actually one of the Philippines’ better offensive performances in the tournament thus far, even sans its skipper Cherry Rose Macatangay, as the country managed to keep within striking distance early on before getting blown out.

Macatangay, a five-foot-11 peppery spiker, limped off the court in the final set of the Philippines defeat over Perspolisse of Iran, 13-25, 13-25, 9-25, last Wednesday.

The Philippines opened up its campaign with a disappointing 12-25, 18-25, 8-25 loss to Thongtinlienviet Bank of host country Vietnam, where Macatangay topscored for the country with eight points.

Even with a line up of grizzled veterans, the PH volleybelles could not get their bearing going with only Aiza Maizo, Rachel Anne Daquis and Macatangay providing the bulk of the scoring load.

Miscalculations and dismal reception also keyed in the doom of the Philippines, which will tangle with the top finisher in Group B for a chance to advance to the next phase.

The clubs are vying for a spot in the 2011 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship set later this year in Doha, Qatar.

The Philippines, which has never made significant impact in Asian volleyball for the past decade, last competed in the club championships in 2006 wherein the country placed sixth overall.

Other members of the veteran-laden PH squad are Mary Jean Balse, Dahlia Cruz, Tina  Salak, Velez, Michelle Carolino, Pau Soriano, Suzanne Roces, Mayette Carolino, Nica Guliman.