Pinays spank Sri Lankans in Asian VB

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines rallied to beat Sri Lanka, 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11, and post its first victory in the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship classification phase at the MCC Hall in Thailand Monday.

Down by a set against their 13th-ranked Sri Lankans, the Power Pinays swept the final two sets, clinching the win on six straight hits by Aiza Maizo-Pontillas to turn a 9-11 deficit in the decider into a resounding victory.

Maizo-Pontillas, the 5-foot-10 UST alumna, finished with a team-high 22 points, including 16 attacks, five blocks, and a service ace in leading the Philippines to its first win in the biennial meet after eight years.

Team captain Angge Tabaquero bucked an ankle injury to score 19 points, while Analyn Joy Benito and Honey Royse Tubino added 11 and 10, respectively, for the Filipina spikers, whose campaign is backed by PLDT Home Fibr broadband.

The win put the 16th-ranked Power Pinays in a position to vie for ninth to 12th place in the classification phase especially if they beat Myanmar in their next game Tuesday night.

A separate Philippine team defeated Myanmar in four sets during the Asian Southeastern Zone Women’s World Championship qualifier in Vietnam three months ago.

Somarathna had 19 points on 15 spikes, two blocks, and two service aces to show the way for the Sri Lankans.

 who appeared ready to wrap up the game in the fourth set when they led, 15-20.

But the Power Pinays fought their way back, with former FEU Wenneth Eulalio’s block tying the game at 22, before Relea Saet of La Salle scored an ace to give the team the lead for good, 23-22.