By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Rebisco PH men’s volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking defeat after losing a five-set thriller against Thailand’s Diamond Food, 34-36, 26-24, 28-26, 19-25, 12-15, in the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship Pool B.
It was Rebisco’s best game of the tournament after forcing the star-studded Thai volleyball club to a fifth and deciding set.
The Filipino fighting spirit was on full display after the team stormed back from a nerve-wracking 34-36 first set loss to getting the next two sets in style.
Jao Umandal and Mark Alfafara were the biggest revelations in the showdown as both men spearheaded Rebisco’s offensive attack scoring 26 and 23, respectively.
In the fifth set, team PH immediately jumped to a 9-6 lead and was six points away for their first-ever win in the tournament.
However, Diamond Food clawed back with four straight points, 9-10, and retook the momentum Rebisco had for a short time.
Both squads traded offensive sets in the next sequences but the taller and more experienced Thai squad ended the game with a 4-1 scoring run.
With the loss, the Filipino spikers will be relegated to the battle for a ninth place against the fifth seed from Group A.
