Pinoys rally to beat Lebanese

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Home TVolution Philippines blew a two-set lead then fought back from a two-point deficit in the decider to hack out a 25-19, 26-24, 13-25, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Zahraa Al Minaa Lebanon and salvage a seventh place finish in the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship presented by PLDT Home Fibr at the MOA Arena in Pasay City yesterday.

Matin Varamin Iran, meanwhile, turned back Al Rayyan Qatar, 19-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-16, to capture the gold and clinch the lone spot in this year’s World Club Championship in Brazil.

The Iranians rallied from a 17-21 deficit in the third set to turn back the Qataris then dominated the fourth set to nail their ninth championship in the annual tournament.

Earlier, Baic Motors China slammed Kondensat Kazakhstan, 25-17, 25-14, 25-20, to finish third.

Down 7-9 in the fifth, the Power Pinoys went to Jeffrey Malabanan, who unloaded four clutch points to shove the hosts to a 14-13 lead before Alnakran Abdilla finished off the Lebanese with a crisp kill into an unguarded space on the right side upfront.

That sparked a frenzied celebration for the Power Pinoys, whose quarterfinal stint was already a feat in itself, this being their first international tournament after almost a decade of inactivity.

“It was unbelievable, beyond our expectations,” said Phl coach Francis Vicente after steering the team to victory against a taller, well-funded team Lebanese squad.

“Going into the match, I told my players since we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, we should give it all, for the country, fans,” he added.

Abdilla, a 21-year-old La Salle-Dasmariñas Criminology graduate who hails from Bongao, Tawi Tawi, finished with 25 hits, including 22 kills, while the power-hitting Australian import Cedric LeGrand added 12 markers.

It was, however, Malabanan who stepped up in the deciding set as he poured in the bulk of his nine-point output that rallied the Filipinos to victory in the event that staked a slot in the World Club Championship in Brazil next month.

The Power Pinoys also pounced on the sidelining of Lebanon Brazilian reinforcement Bruno Furtado, who was pulled out early due to fever.

Bruno’s absence opened up chances for the Phl, which came through with a superb all-around game to sweep the first two sets.

But the Lebanese regrouped then imposed their strength in the next two before seizing a 9-7 lead in the fifth.

Meanwhile, the Asian Volleyball Confederation slapped a $500 fine on Lebanon for a wearing different set of uniform in this particular match.

“It’s my fault, I thought we are scheduled to wear dark uniform,” said Lebanon mentor Simon Atallah.

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei, which finished third last year, overpowered South Gas Club Sports Iraq, 25-22, 25-18, 25-19, to clinch fifth place.