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Alas Men yield to higher-ranked Pakistan in AVC Nations Cup

Sports | Volleyball

Alas Men yield to higher-ranked Pakistan in AVC Nations Cup

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

Alas Pilipinas showed some fight late despite losing main man Marck Espejo in the opening set before falling to a higher-ranked Pakistan, 25-18, 25-12, 18-25, 25-22, at the start of the AVC Men's Volleyball Nations Cup in Manama, Bahrain on Tuesday, June 17.

Alas Men yield in their first match in the AVC Volleyball Nations Cup. (File Photo)

Alas Men yield in their first match in the AVC Volleyball Nations Cup. (File Photo)

Alas Pilipinas showed some fight late despite losing main man Marck Espejo in the opening set before falling to a higher-ranked Pakistan, 25-18, 25-12, 18-25, 25-22, at the start of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup in Manama, Bahrain on Tuesday, June 17.

With Espejo getting hurt late in the first set, the Filipinos looked like a lost cause after dropping the second frame and falling into a 0-2 set hole against the taller Pakistanis, who are ranked higher at 49th against the 62nd by the former.

But just when it looked like everything was going to cave in, the Angiolino Frigoni-mentored Nationals mustered their last reservoir of strength and, relying mostly on the second stringers, snatched the third set and forced another one.

There, Alas looked like it had rode onto the momentum of that third-set shocker and roared to an early 6-2 lead.

But Pakistan regained its composure and a semblance of control as it retook the lead and fended off the Philippines’ one final stand to seize the set and the match.

Despite the defeat, Alas still has a chance of claiming a quarterfinal seat if it could pull the rug from under World No. 45 Chinese Taipei Wednesday in their three-country Pool C.

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