PH men's pair yields to Thai foes in Asian U19 beach volley tilt

Debuting pair Jayrack Dela Noche and Alexander Iraya fought tooth and nail at the 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships but fell short to their efforts at the hands of a more experienced rival on Sunday, July 4, in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
The Filipino pair yielded to top seeds Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha of Thailand, 21-18, 21-15, to render Monday’s match a must-win to advance to the next phase.
Dela Noche and Iraya did not go down without a fight, leading 15-13 in the first set before the Thais mustered their composure.
The Filipinos also kept the game close in the second frame before the Thais pulled away from a 17-12 advantage for good.
Thailand-1, which beat Iran-2’s Amir Reza Zamani and Armin Kami, 21-12, 19-21, 16-14, in a thrilling Pool A opening match Saturday, secured a spot in the quarterfinals with its second straight win.
Seeded eighth in the 13-team tournament, Dela Noche and Iraya needed to beat the No. 9 Iranian pair their final pool match Monday to make it to the next round.
Aside from this event, Dela Noche and Iraya are also slated to compete in the 4th Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships on July 12, a qualifier for the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships.