Jay Rack Dela Noche and Alexander Iraya failed to recover from a narrow first set defeat to drop a 20-22, 9-21 decision at the hands of Australia’s Jack Pearse and Lucas Josefsen on Wednesday in the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Phuket, Thailand.
Josefen, a quarterfinalist in the Third Asian U19 Championships in Nakhon Pathom last July with a different partner, and Pearse found their bearing in the second set to post their second straight win in Pool H.
Australia also struggled in the first set before beating Estonia’s Karmo Saviauk and Kaur Erik Kais, 23-21, 21-10, in Tuesday’s first match.
De la Noche and Iraya pushed Pearse and Josefen to the limits in the extended opening set only to fall short.
De la Noche and Iraya, who also bowed to Thailand’s Narakorn Chumaphai and Veerayut Sopati, 15-21, 19-21, on opening day, will face Saviauk and Kais in a must-win match at 10:40 a.m. on Thursday to clinch a spot in the round of 24.
The Estonians beat the Thais, 21-19, 16-21, 15-13, to tie their victims in second place at 1-1 won-lost, giving the Aussies the solo lead in their bracket.
De la Noche and Iraya’s participation in the event is supported by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Asics, and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
