THE Philippines extended Vietnam to a thrilling five-setter before yielding to the visitors as Indonesia scraped past Thailand to rule the second leg of the Southeast Asia Volleyball League (V.League) before a big and appreciative crowd at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna on Sunday night.

Despite a massive support from the local fans, the hosts succumbed to another heartbreaker against the Vietnamese, 25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 26-24, 8-15, to finish winless in the regional tournament for the second straight leg.

Indonesia, on the other hand, pulled off a reverse against Thailand, 25-27, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21 15-9, to complete a 3-0 campaign and bag the City of Carmona leg after its conquest at home in Jakarta a week ago.

Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo and Steven Rotter were on target once again but the Philippines ran out of gas in the clincher after a stellar comeback in the fourth set to settle for another 0-3 outing.

Bagunas fired 21 points, Espejo had 20 on 16 hits, three blocks and two aces while Rotter, the Best Opposite Hitter in Leg 1, put up 19 laced with four blocks in the foiled bid for the Filipinos, who absorbed a five-set defeat against Vietnam in Jakarta.

Rotter was hailed as the Best Opposite Spiker for the second leg in a row as Farhan Halim of Indonesia earned the MVP plum in the event organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara and presented by PLDT and backed by the City of Santa Rosa, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, One Sports and Cignal.

Thuan Nguyen Ngoc had with 22 points on 17 attacks, three blocks and two aces as Vietnam notched the silver medal with a 2-1 record highlighted by an upset of Thailand. Thuan Tu Thanh, Tuyen Tran Duy and Tien Duong Van added 19, 18 and 11 points, respectively.

Leg 1 MVP Fahry Septian Putratama hammered 17 points while three more players scored in twin digits to show the way for the Indonesians, who also swept the Jakarta leg.

Best Outside Spiker Jakkrit Thanomnoi had 24 points to pace Thailand in a bronze-medal finish this time.

The other awardees were Boy Arnes Arabi (2nd Best Outside Spiker), Hendra Kurniawan (Best Middle Blocker) and Prasojo Prasojo and (Best Libero), all from Indonesia.

The Kai Truong (2nd Best Middle Blocker) and Van Duy Dinh (Best Setter) made it for Vietnam.

(ai/mnm)

INDONESIA shored up its drive to another leg championship with a victory over the Philippines while Vietnam pulled the rug from under Thailand in Day 2 of the Southeast Asia Volleyball League (V.League) second leg Saturday night at the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Champions of the first leg in Jakarta last week, the Indonesians reasserted their dominance over the Filipinos, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20, as the Vietnamese exacted a thrilling vengeful win over the Thais, 25-20, 25-19, 28-30, 21-25, 15-9.

Indonesia improved to 2-0 won-lost, one win shy from the championship, while Vietnam dragged Thailand to a tie at 1-1.

The hosts are winless in two matches in the regional volleyball showpiece hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara and presented by PLDT and backed by the City of Santa Rosa, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, One Sports and Cignal.

Farhan Halim uncorked 19 points on 18 hits and an ace to lead the onslaught of the Indonesians, who clobbered Vietnam in Friday’s opener, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 25-23.

Doni Haryono and Dimas Saputra added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Southeast Asian Games champion. Indonesia also beat the Philippines in Jakarta, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19.

Steven Rotter, the Best Opposite Hitter in Leg 1, carried the fight for the Filipinos with 13 points as Bryan Bagunas settled for only seven after erupting for 25 points against Thailand.

Marck Espejo also had 10 points in a losing cause for the Philippines, which could not sustain the momentum from a gallant stand against the Thais before surrendering a close defeat in five sets, 24-26, 27-25, 25-21, 23-25, 14-16.

For Vietnam, five players racked up double digits led by Thuan Nguyen Ngoc and Tien Duong Van with 17 points each to avenge its 23-25, 26-28, 21-25 loss to Thailand in Jakarta.

Hiep Pham Van, Thuan Tu Thanh and Khai Truong The chipped in 13 points apiece.

The Philippines tackles Vietnam on Sunday at 6 p.m. with hopes of scoring a dominant win to earn a shot at finishing on the podium even as Indonesia shoots for a sweep at 3 p.m. against Thailand.

(ai/mnm)

With seasoned aces Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo on board, the Philippines is out to wage a stronger fight as it hosts the second leg of the inaugural Southeast Asia (SEA) Volleyball League on Friday at the City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Bagunas and Espejo, two of the country’s top spikers, will mark their national team return in the VLeague to form a lethal troika with rising star Steven Rotter, who earned Best Opposite Spiker honors in the first leg held in Jakarta last week.

“They’re experienced players. They’re smart. They can share their experiences with others,” said national men’s team head coach Sergio Veloso as his wards brace for their SEA neighbors anew.

“We can make a stronger job. I feel we can play better now.”

The Philippines takes on Thailand at 7 p.m. for the main event after the opener between Vietnam and Indonesia at 4 p.m. Up next for the hosts are Indonesia and Vietnam on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

More than the games, the Philippines is putting a premium on another international tournament after successfully hosting the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 earlier this month at the Mall of Asia Arena for the second straight year.

“Men’s volleyball is getting popular and we’re very happy to have our close neighbors with us here. We hope to expand next year with more countries,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara in the event presser Thursday at the Seda Nuvali.

“This tournament is very important for Southeast Asia as we, the Philippines along with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are bidding to host the 2025 Volleyball Women’s World Championship,” he added.

The SEA VLeague—presented by PLDT and backed by the City of Santa Rosa, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, One Sports and Cignal, is a brainchild of Suzara and Thailand federation president Shanrit Wongprasert.

The Filipino spikers went winless in three games in Jakarta but not without a fight, especially in the last match where they held a 2-0 lead against Vietnam only to run out of steam in a tough five-setter defeat.

Indonesia, led by MVP Fahry Septian Putratama, completed an unbeaten to become the first leg champion as Thailand and Vietnam completed the podium.
This time at home, the Philippines spikes for a breakthrough.

“It’s a competition so our target is victory,” added Veloso.

The SEA VLeague women’s division will be held on August 4 to 6 in Vihn Phuc, Vietnam, and from August 11 to 13 in Chiangmai, Thailand.

(ai/mnm)