Power Pinoys target quarters vs Iraq

Games today (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 battles Iraq’s South Gas Club Sports today, looking for a second straight win and a berth in the quarterfinals in the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship presented by PLDT Home Fibr at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

The Power Pinoys recovered from a second set meltdown to complete a three-set romp over Mongolia’s Altain Bars in last Tuesday’s inaugurals of the event, moving the hosts to within a win from clinching a spot in the next round in Group A.

Australian reinforcements Cedric LeGrand and William Lewis are again expected to lead the Power Pinoys’ charge after the former unloaded 18 hits and the latter provided the set plays for the hosts.

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

Vicente rued the Phl’s loss of concentration in the second set against Mongolia game and stressed the need to dish out their best in every game, including in their 12 noon match with the Iraqis, who arrived Tuesday night.

“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.

Meanwhile, powerhouse Iran’s Matin Varamin opened its title-retention bid with a 25-18, 21-25, 25-13, 25-22 victory over Japan’s Otia Miyoshi Weisse Adler.

Iran national team mainstay Seyed Mohammad Mousavi E. fired 13 hits while Mostafa Sharifat made 12 hits, including three blocks, to anchor the defending champions’ romp against the Japanese.

“We’re still not in the best condition but we’re slowly getting into the form that we wanted to be,” said Iran’s Italian coach Daniele 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 markers.

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.