PH belles recover, defeat Myanmar

TEAM PHILIPPINES bounced back from its opening day loss as it vented its ire on Myanmar 20-25, 25-14, 25-10, 25-17 in the Asian Southeastern Zone Women’s Volleyball qualifier in Quang Tri, Vietnam late Saturday night.

The POC-PSC Sports volleybelles actually blew an 8-5, 16-14 lead in the opening frame but put their acts together from the second set to clobber their rivals and post the country’s first victory in international volley play in a long while.

The win came after the Filipina spikers, composed of the leading players of the Shakey’s V-League, absorbed a stinging 9-25, 11-25, 18-25 setback from Vietnam Friday at the start of the three-day event serving as a qualifier for this year’s Asian Zonals.

Dindin Santiago, held to just five points by the hosts in her international debut, settled down with her game as the top National U hitter rattled off 16 hits while Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez, who topscored for the team with nine points against Vietnam, sustained her top form and unleashed a 15-hit game.

Jaja Santiago, the other half of the tall Santiago sisters, likewise turned in a impressive game, finishing with 12 points, together with La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Iari Yongco, who had 10 hits. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio