Consecutive heartbreaks couldn’t stop the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team from capturing the elusive breakthrough win, Sunday.
The Nationals capped their Asean Grand Prix campaign on a high note, pulling off an escape act against Vietnam, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-12, at the Terminal 21 Mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The Philippines rose to 1-2 to salvage third place in the first leg of the regional meet. They also kept the Vietnamese winless, sending them down to dead last.
Mylene Paat — who normed 7.5 points in the Nationals’ first two matches — found her offensive groove at the most opportune time. She made her presence felt on all fronts, raining down 14 attacks, four kill blocks, and four service aces en route to 22 points.
Kalei Mau also flaunted her hard-hitting form. The 6-foot-2 opposite hitter fired 16 markers, nailing 14 attacks and a pair of aces.
Meanwhile, Majoy Baron and Ces Molina continued to be a steady force above the net for the country. The former collected six kill blocks for 13 points; meanwhile, the latter netted four rejections laced with 10 attacks to finish with 14 markers.
While fulfilling her playmaking duties, Alohi Robins-Hardy also showcased her scoring prowess. The attacking-setter dealt damage from the service line, unfurling four aces for nine markers.
Throughout the match, the Nationals had to weather the offensive storm churned out by Vietnam skipper Thi Thanh Thuy Tran, who dropped a game-high 25 points.
In a losing cause, Thi Kim Thanh Dang and Thi Bich Thuy Tran managed 15 and eight markers for Vietnam, respectively.
The Philippines now sets its sights on the second leg of the SEA Grand Prix, which will run from October 4 to 6 at the Sta. Rosa Gym in Laguna.
