By NIKOLE JAVIER
Filipino volleyball fans are in agony – some are even furious.
This after the PH women’s volleyball suffered a 22-25, 9-25, 12-25 loss to powerhouse Thailand in the knockout semifinals match in the SEA Games on Saturday, May 13, at the Indoor Olympic Stadium.
Ranged against 13-time defending champion Thais, the Nationals were good only in the opening frame where they gave the regional powerhouse a hard time.
The rest was a smooth ride for the Thais.
That was expected, though.
But what fans can’t fathom was the benching of their idol Alyssa Valdez for the second time, claiming the PH Brazilian coach Jorge De Brito showed no respect to the face of the sport and to the bearer of the PH flag during the opening ceremony.
On social media, fans showed their displeasure to De Brito by asking for his head.
With the loss, the Philippines was relegated to the bronze medal match for the fourth straight edition of the biennial meet.
The Nationals finished in fourth in the last three editions.
The Philippines briefly held a three-point advantage in the opening set, 17-14, but Thailand quickly got back on its feet and went on a 4-0 run to retake the lead.
The Thais then pulled away momentarily with their own 22-19 lead after Chatchu-on Moksri’s down-the-line kill, but the Filipinas put the set in another deadlock of 22-all capped by Tots Carlos’ back-to-back points.
However, Pimpichaya Kokram responded with two straight crosscourt attacks before the Philippines committed an error that ultimately ended the tight set.
Thailand will take on the winner of the other crossover semifinals knockout match between Indonesia and Vietnam happening at press time.
