By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Poland crawled back from a two-set deficit to stun Slovenia, 29-31, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-13, Wednesday night, July 5, in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Poles dug deeper into their back of tricks starting in the third set and sustaining it to complete a stirring come-from-behind win – their seventh in 9 games.
The victory not only propelled Poland to solo third, but also put them half a game behind second-running United States (7-1).
Aleksander Sliwka bannered the Poles by exploding for 20 points, including 18 attacks, while Bartosz Bednorz was equally unstoppable at the attack zone with 13 kills to finish with 14 points.
Mateusz Bieniek also stepped up with 11 points, while team captain Bartosz Kurek helped with 10 points.
Poland appeared headed to an opening-set victory after leading 20-16, but Slovenia fought back courtesy of Jan Kozamernik and Rok Mozic, who fired back-to-back kills for the set win.
The Slovenians continued their assault in the second frame, but lost their steam, allowing the Poles to take control of the game.
“We just want to play as best as we could. We know Slovenia is a very tough team to beat and it showed in the first set. But we fought back,” said Sliwka.
Klemen Cebulj scored 20 points for Slovenia, which fell into a four-way logjam at fourth to seventh places with Argentina, Brazil and Italy with identical 6-3 marks.
Mozic added 17 points, while Tine Urnaut and Kozamernik had 16 and 11 points in a losing effort.
