Pinoys teetering on brink

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines found no answer to Kazakhstan’ fiery assault, absorbing a 19-25, 14-25, 18-25 setback on the third day of the 15th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship at the San Andres gym in Manila yesterday.

The Kazakhs pounded the Filipinos with a variety of kills and fashioned out the emphatic win that spoke well of their bid to put up a good challenge against traditional powers Australia, China, Korea and Japan in the fight for the championship.

The Filipinos practically kissed their quarterfinal hopes goodbye following back-to-back losses in the tourney organized by the Philippine Volleyball Federation and sponsored by CNG Vehicles Corp. and Omnium Philippines.

The host team failed to sustain the momentum of a good start as it bowed to Myanmar Sunday in the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Shakey’s, Pocari, Solar, Asics, Mikasa, Bayview Hotel, City Garden Hotel and Hyatt Hotel.

They hope to avoid being swept as they take on Chinese Taipei tomorrow.

Eighteen teams are seeing action in the tourney. They are divided in four pools in the elimination round with the top two from each group to advance to the quarters.

The Philippines’ remaining hopes of making the next round rest on a win over Chinese Taipei plus things that are no longer in their control.

“We did our best but we couldn’t overcome their kills and blocks. But it’s a good experience for us. It could well help us in our preparations for the SEA Games,” said RP coach Sammy Acaylar in their loss to the Kazakhs.

In earlier games, Lebanon crushed Maldives, 25-19, 25-13, 25-13, while Vietnam whipped Hongkong, 25-23, 25-17, 25-22.

The Lebanese and the Vietnamese made it to the win-column after losing their opening matches Monday and Sunday, respectively.

Also on Monday night, four-time champion Korea outlasted Qatar in an epic five-set duel while Indonesia made a short work of Southeast Asian rival Thailand for their second straight wins.

The Koreans overcame the gritty Qataris, 21-25, 25-14, 25-14, 39-41, 20-18, while the Indonesians walloped the Thais, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20, as they rolled on in their respective groups.

The Indons virtually clinched a slot in the next round with a 2-0 win-loss card in Pool B. With the same card, the Koreans gained crucial headway in Pool D.

Four teams each compose Pools A and B while five make up Pools C and D.