THAILAND reasserted its mastery over the Philippines, 25-17, 25-22, 25-12, at the start in the Second Asean Grand Prix Women’s Volleyball Invitation at the Chartchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima Friday night.
Behind Jema Galanza, the Philippines was able to battle the hosts toe-to-toe in second set, even leading 17-16, before falling short of tying the match.
A dominant third set sealed Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand’s first win in the four-team tournament.
Tots Carlos led the Philippines with 11 points on 10 attacks and a block, while Galanza, who had five points in the second set, finished with eight.
Ced Domingo and Michele Gumabao had four points each, while Jeanette Panaga scored two of her three points from the service area.
Pimpichaya Kokram paced the Thais with 17 points while Srithong Wipawee had 10 points before sitting out the third set.
The Philippines will face Vietnam, which cruised past Indonesia, 25-23, 25-19, 25-9 in the opening match, at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
A victory will boost coach Sherwin Meneses wards’ chances of securing at least a silver medal. The Philippines won back-to-back bronze medalss in the 2019 inaugurals also in Nakhon Ratchasima and Santa Rosa, Laguna.
In the recent Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women, the national women’s team, then playing without ace setter Jia Morado, gave the Vietnamese everything to handle in the extended third set before losing.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation is supporting the national women’s team campaign.
It was the Vietnam’s first win in the Grand Prix as the Southeast Asian Games silver medalist lost all its six matches in 2019.