Following yesterday’s dramatic defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan, the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team succumbed for the last time in the 2018 Asian Games, suffering their second loss of the tournament to host Indonesia, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, and finishing in eighth place in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The last time these two teams squared off was last August 25, with the Philippines falling in four sets as well, 20-25, 20-25, 26-24, 22-25.
Mylene Paat paced the Philippine side with 10 points, all from kills. Alyssa Valdez added eights spikes and a block.
The Santiago sisters tallied five points each.
Another slow day on serve reception doomed the Philippines to start the match. The Indonesians grew steadily into the game, until they scored eight of the first set’s last 10 points.
Re-configuring their lineup by slotting in setter Kim Fajardo and middle blocker Dindin Santiago-Manabat, the Filipinas stopped the bleeding the second frame. The Philippines took a 7-4 lead, before the hosts slowly climbed back to force a close end game. After Manabat punched in a spike off two blockers to give her team a slight 24-22 edge, as the Philippines escaped the second via an exchange of service errors.
The hosts then took charge for the rest of the match. Indonesia started the third set on a 10-2 blitz, and snuffed a fiery Philippines’ rally midway through the frame. Holding a 2-1 sets lead, Indonesia slammed the doors on the Philippines, erasing a 7-11 deficit to cruise to the win.
Aprilia Manganang towed Indonesia with 19 markers, 16 from kills and three from blocks. Her sister Amana only managed to put up eight points.
Five-foot-10 spiker Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah Sugandi tallied nine kills, two aces, and a block.
