The Philippines put up a gallant stand before bowing to Chinese-Taipei, 26-28, 21-25, 21-25 to achieve a sixth-place finish in the AVC Cup for Women Monday before an appreciative crowd at the Philsports Arena.
The women’s national team showed no signs of fatigue after last Sunday’s thrilling 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory over Australia, giving the Taiwanese everything to handle in the extended first set before losing.
Chinese-Taipei took control of the next two with team captain Chang Li-Wen taking charge and was successful in holding down the Philippines’ ace spiker Tots Carlos scoreless in the third set.
With three victories, the sixth-place finish was the host country’s best-ever in a continental competition since a fifth-place in the 3rd Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan in 1983.
“From ninth place in 2018 to sixth in 2022, it’s a great improvement,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.
“Actually, the three wins is a blessing,” said coach Sherwin Meneses. “Three wins is history. We are very thankful for the players who sacrificed because the games are played everyday.”
The Philippines won two pool matches against Iran and South Korea, and edging Australia in last Sunday’s first classification game, easily surpassing the country’s ninth place run in the 2018 edition in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
“The team familiarity and chemistry is important in a tournament like this,” said Meneses.
Ced Domingo came through with 12 points, while Michele Gumabao had two blocks for a nine-point outing.
Jema Galanza had eight kills, Jeanette Panaga also had eight points, including three blocks, while Tots Carlos tallied seven points.
Chang, who scored nine of the match-best 18 points in the third set, praised the Philippines for giving her team stiff challenge before capturing fifth place.
“The Philippines is a good team, they have good speed so we used strong service. Sometimes it is fast, sometimes its short ball. They are focused on reception,” said Chang.
“They always give the ball to the outside spikers and we are ready. We practiced about their outside spikers,” the Taiwanese opposite hitter added.
