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AVC qualifiers: V-League selection breaks into the win column, trips Myanmar

With the ever growing niche of volleyball fans in the archipelago cheering on a team they cannot even see, the V-League/Philippines squad repulsed Myanmar 20-25, 25-14, 25-10, 25-17 in the ongoing Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Southeastern Zonal Women’s Qualification Tournament in Quang Tri, Vietnam.

Converted open-hitter Din-Din Santiago led the Filipinas with 16 markers as the team recovered from a heartbreaking first set loss to rout the Burmese in the next three sets.

Relying only on text updates at source sent by their Team Manager Tony Boy Liao, the social media networks flooded like a raging open dyke as with every update from this writer and a few other mediamen who were receiving the same messages allowed fans to keep in step with the events transpiring thousands of miles away.

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In the first set, the Philippines raced to an 8-5 edge, then eventually a 16-14 advantage at the second technical timeout before the next transmission threw an anticipative nation into sorrow as Myanmar used an 11-4 run in the twilight to snatch the set from the Filipinas, 25-20. When the second set message read 8-4 in the first technical timeout, local fans still held their collective breath. The next transmission from Liao read, “16-7 PHI”. The traffic on Twitter frenzied and by the time Liao texted “Won 2nd set 25-14,” everyone knew that the nationals had finally found their groove and it would be just a matter of time before things kicked into high-gear.

When news arrived that the Philippines was up 8-2 in the third set, many had already sensed that the match would be triumphed. By the time the final third set score—25-10, PHI—became known, a new hashtag emerged: #OneMoreSet.

And that’s exactly what the Filipinas gave their rabid followers via a 25-17 score.

Santiago was supported in scoring by three others in double figures, namely Alyssa Valdez with 15, Din-Din's younger sister Jaja with 12 and Iari Yongco who had ten. Center Maika Ortiz added six, back-up setter Rhea Dimaculangan chipped in five while the veteran duo of Suzanne Roces and skipper Rubie de Leon added three and one, respectively.

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The contingent closes out its campaign against Indonesia—which lost in four sets as well to host nation Vietnam in the nightcap. The victory by the Vietnamese practically sewed up their advancement to the Asian Championship as it takes on the winless Burmese to close out its campaign. For the Philippines to advance instead of the host nation, Myanmar will have to defeat Vietnam in straight sets and hold them to under 27 points in the process. With that prospect bleak, the Philippines’ chances of advancing are also slim.

However, the team showed its true mettle in grinding out the win against Myanmar.

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It may take a few more matches in a few more international stints—whose process may also take a few more years, but the victory just signalled the return of the country in the region. Kudos to the V-League selection for the coup. Now, it’s time to beat Indonesia.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate)