Rebisco-PSL Manila ended their 2017 AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship just how they started it, losing in straight sets to a much more coordinated club. There were more lows than highs when Rebisco dropped in straight sets to Vietnamese side Vietin Bank 13-25, 18-25, 15-25 and finished the tournament in last place in Kazakhstan.
The All-Filipino squad went on the same trend they followed for the last three matches; keeping it close with their foes to start each set before allowing a costly run to slip into the other side’s hands. Vietin Bank slowly broke away from an early 4-all deadlock to settle into a 20-10 lead that decided the first set.
Rebisco, in the second set, took a 10-5 lead thanks to a spurt of points from Aby Maraño and Jaja Santiago. Their offense, however, was nuzzled for a long stretch that saw Vietin retake a commanding 21-16 lead. Late substitutions could not rejuvenate the Rebisco offense as Vietin cruised to the 2-0 lead.
Trailing 9-16 in the third frame, Gonzaga led one final Rebisco rally that pushed them to within four, 12-16. But errors dragged Rebisco out of contention in the latter stage of the set and pushed Vietin Bank ahead for good, 20-14.
The eighth place finish in a tournament of eight teams represents the Philippines’ lowest finish since rejoining the competition in 2014 when PLDT finished eighth in a tournament of 12 clubs.
Jaja Santiago finished with 10 points while Rachel Daquis and Aby Maraño managed seven points.
By local standards, Rebisco’s 15 error total is immaculate. But against the best in Asia, 15 is too much especially when Vietin Bank had just nine.
