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Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship digest: Power Pinays drop 3 straight, face winless Singapore for q’finals slot

My apologies for not having had the opportunity to squeeze in some writing during my recently concluded family vacation, but I guess most of you have been kept abreast of the goings on at the 17th Princess Cup-Chang Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhom Pathom, Thailand.

Yes, the PLDT TVolution-Philippines squad have lost three successive matches in straight sets against three Asian powerhouses in defending titlists Bohai Bank Tianjin-China, the Chinese Taipei national team and Zhetyssu-Kazakhstan—in that order, too.

Today (April 21st), the Power Pinays formalize their entry into the quarterfinal round as they take on lowly VAS-Singapore in their final preliminary round match with the impending propelling them into a knockout match against undefeated Group A pacesetter Hisamitsu Springs-Japan.

April 18—CHN def. PHI, 25-15, 25-16, 25-17

After the spirited opening day triumph against KSEB-India, the Power Pinays had their hands full against the taller and craftier Chinese as they groped for form from the onset. Cuban legend Regla Bell-Mackenzie and National University pagoda Jaja Santiago (who is now “listed” as 6’6” in the official tournament records) were the only bright spots for the Philippines as everyone else just could not get it going against the reigning queens of the tourney. Reserve middle-hitter Michelle Datuin messaged me that it was an improvement over last year’s stint in the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship in Nakhor Ratchasima, Thailand when they went up against China and could even crack double-digits in scoring. That’s a good observation.

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Starting utility spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga did not see action in this match owing to the inverted sprain she suffered in the opening set of the tiff versus India, while Jheck Dionela handled most of the libero duties over starter Tatan Gata-Pantone. Skipper Rachel Anne Daquis was held to only one point in the loss.

CHN—Chen L. 12, Yang 11, Wang J. 10, Yu 8, Zhang 7, Li 6, Wang N. 5, Chen X. 3, Wang Q. (L) 0, Liu (L) 0.

PHI—Bell-Mackenzie 10, Santiago 10, Balse 4, Roces 4, Tubino 4, Tabaquero 2, Daquis 1, Tanyama 1, Gata-Pantone (L) 0, Dionela (L) 0, Argarin 0.

April 19—TPE def. PHI, 25-15, 25-12, 25-11

To gauge where we stand in Asia, the Power Pinays locked horns with the national team from Chinese Taipei who are in this tournament as part of their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Inchon, Korea this October. We learned that we have quite a ways to go. The Taiwanese executed so many quick plays and ran combinations that ran roughshod over the Filipinas that the Power Pinays were never in it from the get-go. The length of Taiwanese center Chen Yi-Ju contained even Santiago and Bell-Mackenzie while errors and reception woes plagued the Philippines. It all came down to Chinese Taipei being more polished and experienced and that’s what made it look like an easy win for them.

However, one veteran journalist noted: “The Philippine team looked like the Chinese Taipei team of ten years ago. They have not been involved in Asian volleyball for a long time. They can even be better than Chinese Taipei if they keep joining and learning from their international neighbours. They have the skill. They can do it.”

TPE—Chen Y. 12, Ho 11, Chen W. 9, Wu 6, Yang Y. 4, Chen T. 4, Wen 3, Tseng 3, Lee 1, Chang 1, Yang M. (L) 0, Chang 0.

PHI—Bell-Mackenzie 9, Santiago 5, Tubino 4, Daquis 3, Roces 2, Balse 2, Dionela (L) 0, Gata-Pantone (L) 0, Tanyama 0, Gonzaga 0, Tabaquero 0, Argarin 0.

April 20—KAZ def. PHI, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21

This was the one that got away. If the Power Pinays triumphed over the Kazahs, then they would be booking a quarterfinal date with the host nation—represented in this tournament by Nakhor Ratchasima and two familiar faces in former Thai youth team members Wanida Kotruang and reigning Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix MVP Wanitchaya Luangtonglang)—and get not only a weaker opponent but a good crowd. It appeared that they were on their way in the first set, but the ceiling of the Zhetyssu squad—particularly the very long and talented Lyudmila Anarbayeva, who registered seven block points—proved to be too much for the Philippines.

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Many applauded the efforts of the Power Pinays, however, and aficionados believe it won’t be long before the Kazakhs fall prey to a rapidly developing women’s volleyball program.

KAZ—Anarbayeva 10, Omelchenko 10, Ishimtseva 8, Pyurova 6, Shenberger 6, Karpova 5, Matseichyk 4, Soboleva 3, Storozhenko (L) 0.

PHI—Bell-Mackenzie 9, Santiago 9, Daquis 8, Roces 7, Balse 3, Tanyama 3, Gata-Pantone (L) 0, Dionela (L) 0, Argarin 0, Gonzaga 0, Tabaquero 0, Tubino 0.

The VAS-Singapore contingent has not scored over eighteen points in a set (and that was even against KSEB-India) throughout the tournament. They are smaller than the Power Pinays and should be a good workout for the squad heading into the quarterfinals where they are already assured of facing the undefeated Japanese.

The team has been playing without rest and since they are in the group that has more participating nations, they will have no rest until the end of it all; through the classification stages.

The goal of the team was not to win the entire tournament, but once again to re-establish a foothold in Asian volleyball. Like the Power Pinoys, the Filipinas are out to gain as much experience as they can and take the necessary infant steps in solidifying a national team program that has been in the doldrums for years. Once they complete their mission, they bring home a lot of learnings which will directly translate into progress in the very near future.

Many have pointed out that if Gonzaga had been playing at one hundred percent, some results would have differed. But that is moot at this point and Head Coach Sammy Acaylar will be pleased with the immersion the ladies have been part of.

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Let’s continue supporting our intrepid squad. The team will only get better. Philippine volleyball now has an international pulse.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com