Alas Pilipinas men beat Indonesia, advance to battle for 9th

Alas Pilipinas men’s team celebrates a point against Indonesia in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men 2024. –AVC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas leaned on bench players Jade Disquitado and Nico Almenras to overcome the young but gritty Indonesia, 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22, and advance to the ninth place match of the AVC Men’s Challenge Cup late Wednesday evening (Manila time) in Bahrain.

Team Captain Marck Espejo powered the Philippines with 20 points off 17 attacks, two aces, and a block, but it was Disquitado and Almendras who spelled the difference to deliver the country’s first win after losing its two matches in Pool A.

The pair from National University, who subbed in for Leo Ordiales and Jau Umandal, provided the spark from the bench and led Alas’ pull away in the fourth set before Kim Malabunga’s back-to-back blocks for a 19-13 spread.

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Owa Retamar’s 1-2 play and Lloyd Josafat’s block pushed the cushion to 23-19 but the Indonesians didn’t go down without a fight and scored three straight points to cut down the lead to two after Prasasti Dedi’s hit, 23-21.

Disquitado sent the Filipino Spikers at match point, 24-21, before Espejo committed a service error. Almendras nailed the game-clinching attack to end the classification match in one hour and 45 minutes.

Alas Pilipinas men’s team celebrates a point against Indonesia in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men 2024. –AVC PHOTO

Disquitado, the UAAP Season 86 top rookie, scored 12 points built on nine attacks and three blocks. Malabunga provided six of the team’s 15 blocks to finish with 12 points, while Almendras chipped in 10 points on a 9-of-19 attacking clip.

Retamar ran the offense and scored four points including two blocks.

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Alas eyes to end its Challenge Cup stint in ninth place facing the winner of the Thailand-Chinese Taipei classification game on Friday.

After Ordiales nailed the finishing touches of the opening set, the Indonesians got the better of the Filipinos in the second set. They broke a tie at 22 after a couple of crucial attack errors from the Philippines then Dedi blocked Espejo to reach set point, 24-22.

Disquitado saved a point with a cross-court hit but Retamar’s service error allowed their Southeast Asia rival to tie the game to one set apiece.

With Almendras and Disquitado providing the spark, Alas Pilipinas got its act together in the third as Indonesia committed most of its 27 errors in the frame, which Malabunga closed out with a quick attack for an 11-point demolition.

Indonesia seeks to avoid the last place facing the loser of the Thailand-Chinese Taipei game.

Dedi led the way with 18 points, while Nibras Fauzan had 12 points off eight attacks, three aces, and a block.