PH belles fall short in Asian Southeastern Zone qualifiers

TEAM PHILIPPINES closed out their campaign on a losing note as they got booted out by Indonesia, 20-25, 19-25, 22-25, in the final day of the Asian Southeastern Zone Women’s Volleyball qualifier campaign in Quang Tri, Vietnam late Sunday.

The hastily formed squad finished with a 1-2 (win-loss) record to finish in third place in the event that serves as the qualifying event for the Asian Zonals.

The Vietnamese team took the lone slot with a 3-0 sweep.

Inspired by their four-set victory over the Burmese, the POC-PSC Sports V-Belles, led by sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago of NU and Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez, wrested control early in the first set, pouncing on their rivals’ shaky start for an 8-2 lead. They held sway at 16-11 but failed to neutralize the Indonesians’ fightback.

The Pinay spikers, who also included Maika Ortiz and Rhea Dimaculangan of UST, Iari Yongco of La Salle-Dasmarinas, and NU’s Jennylyn Reyes, Myla Pablo and Rubie De Leon, Adamson’s Pau Soriano, Jheck Dionela of Perpetual Help and Suzanne Roces, kept the game close in the second frame, 7-8, and 13-16. But the Indonesians put on another strong finishing kick to go 2-0.

Dindin Santiago topscored with 14 hits while Jaja Santiago held her ground and chipped in 11 points and Ortiz and Valdez added 10 and nine markers, respectively. Dimaculangan had two while Yongco finished with one hit. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio