Foton Pilipinas face top Chinese club Ba’yi Shenzeng in the knockout quarterfinals of the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship hosted at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Ba’Yi earned the top seed in Group F after thwarting defending champions Bangkok Glass in five grueling set,s 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8, in yesterday’s nightcap.
2015 Asian U23 MVP Liu Yan Han carried Ba’Yi with her 28 points off 25 attacks and three blocks. Thai National Team stalwart Pleumjit Thinakow led four Bangkok Glass players in double-digits with 17 points off 15 spikes and two blocks.
Earlier in the day, Foton Pilipinas had succumbed to Altay VC of Kazakstan in three tight sets, 25-27, 18-25, 21-25.
Towering Altay VC open hitter Sana Anarkulova topped all scorers with 16 points built on 13 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. American import Lindsay Stalzer led Foton in her first game back since suffering from back spasms, pitching in 11 points.
As the bottom seed in Group E, Foton will need to topple the undefeated Ba’Yi Shenzeng in order to reach their semifinal goal.
The second seed in Group F, Bangkok Glass, will meet Group E’s third seed, Thongtin LVP Bank of Vietnam, who fell to scorching Japanse club NEC Red Rockets, 15-25, 19-25, 13-25.
Pocket Rocket Mizuki Yanagita amassed a game-high 14 points for the Japanese, while Ann Pham Ti Nguyet led the Vietnamese with eight markers.
Altay VC, on the other hand, earned the second seed in Group E and will face the Sarmayeh Bank of Iran, who toppled Chinese Taipei’s T. Grand, 25-14, 25-16, 25-12.
Iran’s U23 team standout Mahsa Kahdkoda led the way with 16 points, while Huang Chen Yu scored six points to lead T. Grand.
T. Grand, the fourth seed in Group F, take on the NEC Red Rockets.
All quarterfinals matches will be on Friday, starting from 11:00 am, at the Alonte Sports Arena.
