RP spikers absorb fourth straight loss

Chinese Taipei sent host Philippines reeling to its fourth straight loss with a merciless 25-17, 25-18, 25-9 victory yesterday in the relegation tie of the 7th Asian Youth Girls Volleyball Championship at the Philsports Arena.

Wei Wen Huang pounded in 15 hits including 13 on kills while Ai Shih Wang unloaded eight spikes and two blocks as the Taiwanese overpowered the Filipinos.

“We made some mistakes but we played well overall,” said Chinese Taipei coach Hsin Mu Yu through an interpreter.

The Taiwanese thus forged a duel with the Indonesians today in a battle for fifth place while the Filipinas were relegated to a showdown for seventh spot with the Australians.

Indonesia nearly blew a 2-0 sets lead before hanging tough in the fifth and deciding set to eke out a pulsating 25-23, 25-21, 25-27, 21-25, 15-11 win over Australia.

It was the host country’s fourth defeat in row following its win over lowly Sri Lanka on its first game.

In the consolation round, Kazakhstan smashed India, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, to clinch ninth place.

Iran, for its part, walloped Sri Lanka, 25-19, 25-14, 29-27, to finish this weeklong event at 11th place.

Chinese Taipei displayed awesome court coverage as it came through with 34 successful digs out of the 67 it attempted as against RP’s nine of 65.

Aleona Santiago and skipper Alyssa Valdez combined for 14 hits to emerge the only bright spots for the Filipinas.