By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alas Pilipinas put up a gallant fight before succumbing to Vietnam, 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 25-9, to remain winless in the 5th SEA Women’s V.League Leg 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Saturday, Aug. 2.
The Nationals tried to regain their bearing by taking over the third frame where Eya Laure spearheaded their counterattack.
Though it looked like the momentum shifted to the Filipina spikers, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen lived up to their lofty billings and fired solid hits for the Vietnamese that ultimately spoiled the fun of the PH crew.
The Nationals absorb their second straight loss and must win their final game against Indonesia on Sunday, Aug. 3, in order to boost their chances of earning a podium spot in the first leg before the competition’s second part moves to Vietnam on Aug. 8.
And despite their loss, the Filipinas appeared to have improved their plays against the same opponent who swept them in their last two encounters in AVC Nations Cup and VTV International Cup.
Alas actually had regained its form in the second frame after a first-set stumble with Laure and Vanie Gandler bringing the Filipinas within reach before falling short.
Laure and Gandler even continued to show the way with Maddie Madayag and Dell Palomata in the third where they bounced back from an early 4-9 deficit to a 24-22 lead to help the Nationals forge an extension.
Things, however, dramatically changed in the fourth as the Vietnamese, a perennial bridesmaid in the SEA Games, displayed their true form, limiting the Filipinas to just nine points — the lowest so far by any teams in the tournament.
