After a resounding win against Iran’s Azad U, the Petron Blaze Spikers dropped their fourth straight match of the AVC Women’s Club Championship at the hands of Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu VC 25-17, 25-18, 25-20 at Ha Nam Gym in Vietnam.
The Pinays could not take advantage of Zhetyssu’s paltry 22 errors. Petron had only 10 infractions but that was the only bright spot in the Blaze Spikers’ game as the Kazaks outplayed them in every other category. Zhetyssu delivered a whooping 13 aces on Peton’s faltering back line while also controlling the net with 14 block kills to Petron’s seven.
Victoria Yemialyanchyk led Zhetyssu with a game-high 16 points and 11 excellent receptions while Tatyana Mudritskaya followed closely with 15 points.
Reigning PSL AFC MVP, Rachel Daquis led her team with nine points. Despite her team’s struggle Dindin Santiago-Manabat continued to provide her team with a consistent scoring option, notching eight points. Brazilian import, Rupia Inck pace the offense with seven markers while her fellow import, Erica Adachi gathered 46 excellent sets.
Just last May, team Pilipinas defeated Kazakhstan in the AVC U23 tournament to advance to the tournament’s second classification phase. The Nationals placed seventh in said tourney.
The loss means Petron can only finish the tournament as high as seventh place as they will face the loser of the NoKor-Vietnam clash tomorrow.
Blaze Spikers’ head coach, George Pascua said before the tournament that this trip will give his team valuable experience in their bid to defend their PSL Grand Prix title beginning this October 10.
The Scores
Zhetyssu (3) – Yemilyanchik 16, Mudritskaya 15, Nessedkina 11, Aizharikhova 6, Mikaleshevich 5, Ishimtseva 4. Soboleva 3, Botkuldina 3, Sadykova 0, Storozhenko (L)
Petron (0) – Daquis 9, Manabat 8, Rupia 7, Molina 3, Morada 3, Adachi 1, Cayetano 1, Maraño 1, Zapanta 0, Reyes (L)
*Photo taken from AVC – Asian Volleyball Confederation facebook
