By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Rebisco Philippines volleyball team was unsuccessful again after suffering a loss against Iran’s Saipa, 24-26, 25-22, 13-25, 17-25, in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.
The Filipinas just had no answer in the last two sets of the match when Saipa’s offense started clicking.
However, Rebisco played their best match of the tournament after grabbing the second-set win.
Philippine national team staple Dindin Santiago-Manabat let her presence known in the game as she piled up the points off her clean spikes.
Backstopping the flawless performance of Santiago-Manabat are Faith Nisperos and Mhicaela Belen who also lifted the squad in the second set win.
After the Filipinas tied the game at one set apiece, Saipa superstars Mona Ashofteh and Mahsa Kadkhoda began to operate on the offensive end.
Rebisco just didn’t have any answers for the emphatic tandem as they exposed the loose backline defense of the team.
Despite the loss, Rebisco still ended the game on a positive note after seeing the team’s full potential with Eya Laure, Nisperos, and Belen starting to play better.
Veteran middle blockers Majoy Baron, Aby Maraño, and Kim Dy also provided the punch Rebisco needed on the defensive end but couldn’t keep the consistency soon as Ashofteh and Kadkhoda found their groove.
Meanwhile, Team PH’s other team, Team Choco Mucho also lost their last game and are still winless in the group stage.
