The drought continues for Philippine women’s volleyball.
The Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team succumbed once more to regional rival Indonesia, bowing in four sets 21-25, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25 in the bronze medal match of the 31st Southeast Asian Games, Saturday at the Dai Yen Arena in Quang Ninh.
The nationals once again missed out on a podium finish, last making it in the 2005 edition of the tournament in Bacolod.
Moreover, the Philippines has yet to win against the Indonesians in their last four meetings.
Trying to stay alive, the duo of Mylene Paat and Jaja Santiago powered the Philippines to an 18-10 lead.
Wulandar Ratri and Pertiw Megawati Hangestri though had other plans, towing Indonesia to a 10-0 rally to the Filipinas at bay.
Back-to-back hits by Megawati Hangestri sealed bronze for Indonesia.
Megawati Hangestri wound up with 22 points while Ratri added 21.
Paat paced the Filipinas with 20 points while Santiago added 12. Alyssa Valdez ended up with eight points as well but played minimally during the fourth set.
A day prior, Bryan Bagunas dropped 44 points, lifting the men’s indoor team to a 26-24, 22-25, 25-22, 29-27, 16-14, triumph over Cambodia to end up in fifth place.
Bagunas’ tournament-high line was built from 37 attacks, four blocks, and three aces.
Joshua Umandal added 10 points.
Philippine volleyball ended its campaign in the regional meet with just a two-bronze harvest.
The quartets of Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Jovelyn Gonzaga took bronze on the women’s beach while the men’s team of Jude Garcia, Krung Arbasto, Ran Abdilla, and Jaron Requinton also finished third.
