Japanese batter Tornadoes in 3
Japan Nec Red Rockets in the AVC Asian Women’s volleyball tournament.
BIÑAN—NEC Red Rockets of Japan pulled no punches and taught Foton Pilipinas painful lessons in a masterful 25-13, 25-7, 25-15 rout Tuesday night at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Club Championships.
The more-cohesive Japanese lost no time imposing their will on the Tornadoes at Alonte Arena here, racing to an easy first-set win before taking the fight out of the hosts by erecting a 9-0 lead in the second.
The win was the third successive for the unbeaten Japanese.
The Tornadoes, who lost their second straight game, battle Astay VC of Kazakhstan today hoping for a win that would give them a favorable matchup in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Another loss for Foton Pilipinas, though, would send it into a clash with either title contender Ba’Yi Shengzheng of China or defending champion Bangkok Glass.
“We learned a great deal of lessons today,” said Foton team captain Jaja Santiago in Filipino. “It’s obvious that there are a lot of things we have to work on.”
Santiago posted just two points and no Tornado managed to score in double figures. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker is expected to skip the match against the Kazakhs to honor her obligation to play with National University in the Shakey’s V-League semifinals.
Foton is also expected to miss the injured Lindsay Stalzer.
Jovelyn Gonzaga, who was largely held in check by the well-organized Japanese defense and managed two points, marveled at how the Japanese played.
“They have a very high-level game,” she said.
Foton’s Italian coach Fabio Menta said the Tornadoes played according to the game plan, but the Japanese simply would not allow them to get into a rhythm.
“It’s amazing how they managed to slow down the tempo and then speed things up to adjust against us,” said Menta.
NEC Japan coach Akinori Yamada singled out Foton setter Rhea Dimaculangan, Gonzaga and Santiago as “good players” but stopped short of assessing the capability of the local team.
