Power Pinoys gun for quarters berth vs Iraq

Games Thursday (MOA Arena)

12 noon - Philippines vs Iraq

2 p.m. - Lebanon vs Japan

4 p.m. - Vietnam vs Iran

(Cuneta Astrodome)

4 p.m. - China vs Taiwan

6 p.m. - UAE vs Papua New Guinea

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ PLDT Home TVolution seeks to plant its other foot to the quarterfinals as it goes for a victory against Iraq’s South Gas Club Sports in the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship presented by PLDT Home Fibr at the MOA Arena in Pasay City on Thursday.

The Power Pinoys moved half a step to the next round after they bucked a second set collapse to smash Mongolia’s Altain Bars, 25-13, 25-23, 25-16, Tuesday that also sent the host country atop Group A.

Australian reinforcements Cedric LeGrand and William Lewis proved a great fit to a loaded Phl team as the two came through with a pair of debuts to remember, with the former unloading 18 hits, including 13 on kills, and the latter displaying excellent setting ability that led to those eye-pleasing attacks by the Phl.

“We need to play harder than we did against Mongolia for us to get another win,” Vicente said in Filipino.

Vicente rued Phl’s loss of concentration in the second set of the Mongolia game as the one that’s keeping him wary.

“We can’t afford to relax in any given time. We need to continue to play hard every time we’re on the floor,” he said.

It will not help though that Iraq, which finished seventh in the annual tournament’s last staging last year, just arrived Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, powerhouse Iran’s Matin Varamin bared its fangs as it downed Japan’s Otia Miyoshi Weisse Adler, 25-18, 21-25, 25-13, 25-22, to jumpstart its title-retention bid.

Iran National team mainstay Seyed Mohammad Mousavi E. headed the onslaught as he churned out 13 hits while Mostafa Sharifat scattered 12 of his own, including three blocks.

Iran's Italian coach Daniele Bagnoli later said his team is not yet in top condition.

"We’re still not in the best condition but we’re slowly getting into the form that we wanted to be,” said Bagnoli.

Japan's Egpytian import Mohamed Khattab scored 18 of his 19 points on attacks, while Yuki Hosokawa and Hiroya Ishigaki had 14 and 12 in a losing cause.

Iran pounced on Japan, which finished sixth last year, on the defensive end (12-1) and fired more aces (8-4).

The event is backed by Mikasa, Healthway Medical, Maynilad, Gerflor Spurway, Senoh Equipment, STI, PSC, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto and MMDA chairman lawyer Francis Tolentino.

All games by the PLDT Home TVolution team are televised live on TV5, the official broadcast partner of the AMCC. The tournament also has Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1, Jam 88.3, Play 99.5 and KLite 103.5 as radio partners.