The gallant stand of the Philippine women’s national volleyball team went for naught as they dropped a tight four-set match against Vietnam, with scores of 19-25, 27-25, 29-31, and 14-25, in the second leg of the 2023 Southeast Asian VLeague at the Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Sports Complex.
Despite putting up a fight in the first three sets, the Philippine national team, led by collegiate standouts, crumbled in the fourth set.
They trailed by as much as 11 points, 11-22, after Đoàn Thị Xuân went through the block, capping a four-to-nothing run for Vietnam.
Vietnam, playing without team captain Trần Thị Thanh Thúy and first-leg Best Setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh, moved to 2-0 in the standings.
They are set to face Thailand tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. in what could possibly be the gold medal match of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, suffering its second consecutive loss, and Indonesia will likely compete for the bronze medal also tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
After losing the opener, the young Filipinas managed to overcome a slim deficit in the second set. They found themselves tied at 25-all against the Vietnamese side.
Alyssa Solomon then took charge, unleashing a searing cross-court attack that Vietnam couldn’t handle, giving the Philippines a 26-25 lead.
Lý Thị Luyến attempted to level the game, but her quick attack sailed out, allowing the Filipinas to tie the match at 1-all.
The Philippines once again engaged in an extended set against Vietnam in the third frame. Vange Alinsug equalized at 24-all with a cross-court hit that went over the block, and Nina Ytang put the team at set point with a block on Vi Thị Như Quỳnh, making it 25-24.
Vi, however, responded and earned a block touch, leading to another deuce. Both squads exchanged points from that point before the Philippines got another opportunity to secure the set. A quick attack from Minierva Maaya and an attack error from Vi gave them a 28-27 advantage.
The 21-year-old outside hitter from Than Quảng Ninh redeemed herself by converting an off-the-block hit, followed by a cross-court attack from Phạm Thị Nguyệt Anh, giving Vietnam a 29-28 lead.
Solomon saved a point for the Filipinas, but Đoàn Thị Xuân broke through the Philippines’ block with an emphatic hit. She then blocked Vange Alinsug, giving the Vietnamese a 2-1 set lead.
