After getting clobbered by Olympic champion China on Wednesday night, the Philippine women’s volleyball team shoot for some measure of respect when they battle Kazakhstan in the battle for fifth to eight places.
The consolation round match between the Filipinas and Kazakhs is set at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. in Manila) on Friday.
The Chinese shoved the Filipinas to the exit with a methodically easy 25-15, 25-9, 25-7 victory in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the same night the Kazakhs fell to the Japanese, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21.
If the Philippine volleybelles beat the Kazakhs, they get a chance to finish fifth should they topple the winner of the other consolation round match between host Indonesia and Vietnam also set on Friday.
China surged to the semifinals against Japan. Reigning champion South Korea tangles with Southeast Asian champion Thailand in the other semifinal pairing.
If the Filipinas lose, the best they could attain is a seventh-place finish — but they have to earn that by beating the loser of the Vietnam-Indonesia tussle.
Zhu Ting, arguably the best and highest-paid player of this generation, delivered only five points on very limited time on the floor, but just the same, the Chinese were still too strong and too dominant for the Filipinos to overcome.
In addition, China ended the match in less than an hour, with 6-foot-6 Jaja Santiago serving as the lone bright spot with 12 kills, three blocks, and an ace for the Philippine side that is looking to gain experience for the 30th Southeast Asian Games next year.
Philippine head coach Shaq Delos Santos admitted that they were awed at how China had played them.
“All I can say is that they played a really good game,” said Delos Santos, who obviously had a tough time matching the strategy of his counterpart, China’s legendary coach Jenny Lang Ping.
“They are very tall with a combination of speed, skills and talent. They are very smart on the court. It’s really an honor being on the opposite floor with them.”
Delos Santos reiterated that their aim is not to win the gold, but to gain the experience they will need for the SEA Games, which the country is hosting next year.
The Philippine campaign in the Games included losses to Japan, Thailand and Indonesia — which went to four sets — and a lone win over lowly Hong Kong.
“For us, this is truly a great experience. I hope this inspires the team,” de los Santos said. “As I’ve told them, we don’t need to feel down.
“Instead, we have to be inspired because we’re learning whenever we play against these giants regardless of the results.”
