PH men's volleyball team reaches semis; women's team ends campaign on winning note
The Philippine men’s beach volleyball team barged into the semifinals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after keeping Laos winless in the tournament on Sunday, May 14, at the Otres Beach in Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia.
Coming off a disappointing loss at the hands of Vietnam, 2-1, a day prior, the quartet of Ran Abdilla, Jaron Requinton, James Buytrago and Jude Garcia bounced back in dominant fashion against Laos to end their group stage campaign with a 3-1 slate.
*James Buytrago and Jude Garcia in Set 2 against Khampene Sanyalack and Lid Saykwhamoun of Laos. (Screenshot All About Volleyball on YouTube)*
Abdilla and Requinton delivered the opening blow against Khampene Sanyalack and Lid Saykwhamoun, 21-9, 21-8, in the first match. Following suit were Buytrago and Garcia who went on a 21-11, 21-13 finishing kick against Bounmixay Phommachan and Chansabab Chanthongdeng in the second match. The men’s team is eyeing to eclipse its two previous bronze medal finishes in this year’s edition of the biennial meet. Meanwhile, it was a disappointing turnout for the women’s beach volleyball team as it missed out on the podium for the first time since 2019. The Filipina spikers suffered a 22-20, 13-21, 13-15 against the powerhouse Thailand on May 13. Much like their fellow Pinay spikers in the indoors competition, the women’s beach volleyball team was sent reeling and deprived of a better finish by the Thais. After being kept winless in two outings, though, the women’s team ended its campaign on a winning note after shrugging off a tight first set against Malaysia in Pool B on May 14. In the first match, the duo of Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez turned back Maegan Beh Jia Yin and Sin Sing Yee with a 21-19, 21-9 rout. The team of Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzales then destroyed Nur Auni Maisarah Shamsulrizal and Zuliza Pilihan with a 21-9, 21-11 drubbing to end the pool play with a 1-2 win-loss record.
*James Buytrago and Jude Garcia in Set 2 against Khampene Sanyalack and Lid Saykwhamoun of Laos. (Screenshot All About Volleyball on YouTube)*
Abdilla and Requinton delivered the opening blow against Khampene Sanyalack and Lid Saykwhamoun, 21-9, 21-8, in the first match. Following suit were Buytrago and Garcia who went on a 21-11, 21-13 finishing kick against Bounmixay Phommachan and Chansabab Chanthongdeng in the second match. The men’s team is eyeing to eclipse its two previous bronze medal finishes in this year’s edition of the biennial meet. Meanwhile, it was a disappointing turnout for the women’s beach volleyball team as it missed out on the podium for the first time since 2019. The Filipina spikers suffered a 22-20, 13-21, 13-15 against the powerhouse Thailand on May 13. Much like their fellow Pinay spikers in the indoors competition, the women’s beach volleyball team was sent reeling and deprived of a better finish by the Thais. After being kept winless in two outings, though, the women’s team ended its campaign on a winning note after shrugging off a tight first set against Malaysia in Pool B on May 14. In the first match, the duo of Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez turned back Maegan Beh Jia Yin and Sin Sing Yee with a 21-19, 21-9 rout. The team of Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzales then destroyed Nur Auni Maisarah Shamsulrizal and Zuliza Pilihan with a 21-9, 21-11 drubbing to end the pool play with a 1-2 win-loss record.