Chinese Taipei’s Taipower celebrates. PVL photo
Fallen Angels
NEWLY-MINTED Premier Volleyball League champion PetroGazz fell to Chinese Taipei’s Taipower, 15-25, 16-25, 25-19, 20-25, in a disappointing start to its AVC Women’s Champions League campaign yesterday at the Philsports Arena.
The Angels fell behind in the first two sets as American Gia Day was groping in form before getting a lifeline behind Brooke Van Sickle.
But Taipower was able to regroup in the fourth set and doused any hopes for the Angels to force a decider to complete a two-match sweep of its Pool B matches.
PetroGazz still has a shot of claiming the last quarterfinals berth in the group against Hong Kong’s Hip Hing at 7 p.m. tonight at the same Pasig venue.
PLDT, which defeated Australia’s Queensland, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday night, became the first Philippine club to reach the quarterfinals after Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima eliminated the Pirates from contention after a 25-10, 25-16, 25-12 sweep.
The High Speed Hitters and the Thais, who have also secured a spot in the quarters, clash at 4 p.m. today to determine the final rankings in Pool D.
Day was still able to lead the Angels with 18 points while Van Sickle added 13 points, including two service aces, and eight digs while MJ Phillips had three of her nine points from blocks.
Hsu Wan-Yun came through with 18 points, including two aces, and 14 digs, for Taipower, which swept Hip Hing in last Sunday’s opener
Displaying power, precision and poise, PLDT steamrolled the young Queensland side for a winning start.
Savi Davison delivered a standout 14-point performance to lead the High Speed Hitters. But for the explosive winger, it wasn’t just about the numbers.
“I think I need to be more than just an attacker in this game – I have to play the role of a leader because this is an international tournament,” said Davison, underscoring the need to elevate her presence beyond scoring.
Mika Reyes finished with 11 points, while Cuban Wilma Salas rounded out PLDT’s double-digit scorers with 10 points, along with 15 digs and four receptions.
American opposite spiker Anyse Smith led Nakhon Ratchasima with 13 points and five digs, while Greek Evangelia Chantava chipped in 12 points, including two blocks.
Meanwhile, China’s Baic Motor delivered a championship-like performance, completing a reverse sweep of Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-10, to become the Pool C winners.
Not only did the Chinese side spoil the highly anticipated debut of the Vietnamese powerhouse in the continental tournament, they also became the first team to clinch a quarterfinal spot in their group, following up last Sunday’s 28-26, 25-22, 25-19 win over Iran’s Saipa Tehran.
