Choco Mucho got the boot from Pool B second seed Supreme Chonburi after a 13-25, 22-25, 21-25 defeat, in the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship crossover quarterfinals, Monday at Terminal 21 Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The loss brought Choco Mucho down to the classification matches, where they will square off against fellow Filipino team Rebisco on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. The winner will face Zhetysu in the battle for fifth place, while the loser will end up at seventh.
Malika Kanthong was a revelation off the bench for the Thailand-based team with 16 big points, including 10 in the tight second period.
Middle blocker Pleumjit Thinkaow, 37, and open spiker Wipawee Srithong were their usual selves with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Kalei Mau led the Filipinas anew with 16 points, including two block kills.
On the other hand, Mylene Paat had a field day, going for 14 points. Still, her efforts could not prevent Choco Mucho from dropping its third consecutive match.
Down 13-19 in the third set, the Filipinas tried to stage an uprising with four straight markers. But Supreme Chonburi still had answers in them to take the win.
After a through-the-block hit from Kalei Mau to tie things up at 21 in the second frame, Kanthong and Thinkaow connived for a quick 4-1 swing to move on the verge of a sweep.
Already ahead 9-7, Supreme Chonburi then took its play up a notch, unloading a 16-6 surge to easily get the first canto, 25-13.
