Alas Pilipinas showed they can compete at a high level despite losing in straight sets to higher-ranked China, 19-25, 22-25, 22-25, to open their 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men campaign on Monday at midnight (Manila time) at the Isa Sport City Hall in Bahrain.
The Philippines, ranked 59th in the world, dropped to 0-1 in the three-team Pool A, while 31st-ranked China zoomed to an early lead at 1-0.
Bahrain, ranked 67th, completes Pool A. Alas will face the home team on Tuesday at midnight to try to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
The top two teams of the four groups will advance to the next round, while the bottom squads will play in the ninth to 12th placement matches.
(C) AVC
“It was a tough game. I know we just did our best, and we fell short and made a lot of mistakes, but yeah, it was a good game,” said Nationals co-captain Marck Espejo, who had eight points in the one-hour, 19-minute match.
“This is the most important because, as I told my players, sometimes we win, but every time you need to learn, and this China played a good match… and (they have) strong servers,” said Alas head coach Sergio Veloso.
(C) AVC
Co-captain Jau Umandal led the way for the Philippines with 10 points, while collegiate youngster Leo Ordiales also shocked the competition with 10 points, including five in the opening frame.
Kim Malabunga had five points in the defeat that also saw Josh Ybañez, a two-time UAAP MVP as a spiker, make a good account of himself as a libero.
However, it was costly and untimely errors that struck Alas most, as they committed 26 miscues while also lagging in the spiking and blocking departments, 37-43 and 2-5, respectively.
The 24-year-old Zhang Jingyin spearheaded China’s cause with 15 points on 14-of-19 attacks and one block.
Chinese captain Jiang Chuan also registered 13 points on a high clip of 12-of-16 in spikes along with one service ace.
China will face Bahrain on Wednesday at midnight for a sure spot in the quarterfinals.
