The Philippine women’s volleyball team slipped past Uzbekistan, 25-14, 13-25, 25-18, 25-18, to finish in the seventh place of the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup in East Java, Indonesia Sunday, June 25. 

After back-to-back losses that saw them booted out of the semifinals contention, the Filipinas finally rediscovered their winning touch to wrap up their campaign in the Asian tilt. 

Faith Nisperos and Shaya Adorador carried out the onslaught for the Philippine team with 17 and 13 points, respectively. Veteran spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas added 12 points while Ezra Madrigal had nine points in a total team effort. 

The PH spikers jumped to a 14-6 lead in the opening set that ballooned to a telling double-digit advantage of 21-11 which was enough to keep the Uzbeks at bay. 

However, the Uzbeks came through in the second set and equalized to put the match at one set apiece.  

Tied at 7-all in the third set, the Philippines came to its senses and blasted Uzbekistan with a 9-1 run to extend its advantage en route to a 2-1 set lead. 

The fourth set was no different as the Filipinas encountered some resistance from the Uzbeks, 12-10, before Raagas eventually put the Philippines at match point, 24-16. 

Askarova Zarnigora of Uzbekistan then saved two match points with back-to-back kills, but Magrigal delivered the game-clinching quick attack before the opponent could completely recover. 

The Philippines won two other matches in the tournament against Macau in its opening game before losing to Indonesia in four sets. 

The Jorge Souza de Brito-coached Nationals then eked out a five-set win over India before falling to Australia in their quarterfinals clash, leaving them relegated to the classification round. 

The slide continued as the Filipinas dropped the battle for fifth place against Iran a day prior.