Pinay spikers gun for crucial win vs Indonesia
JAKARTA: With a quarterfinal berth in the bag, the Philippines seeks to finish the preliminaries on a sizzling note when it clashes with regional rival Indonesia in women’s volleyball at the 18th Asian Games today at the GBK Indoor Tennis Hall here.
Action fires off at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) with the Filipinos oozing with confidence following a straight-set conquest of Hong Kong on Thursday to punch a ticket to the next round.
A victory over the Indonesians will not only give the Philippines high morale against heavyweights China and Korea in the next round, but will also give them a chance to gauge their strength on the continental level.
Kim Kianna Dy goes for a drop shot against two Hong Kong defenders during the 2018 Asian Games volleyball competition in Jakarta, Indonesia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos said their match against the Indonesians is a must-win, especially if they want to return to the medal podium in the 30th Southeast Asian Games next year.
“Indonesia is the silver medalist in the previous SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. We have to beat them here (in the Asian Games) if we’re serious in our bid of returning to the medal podium next year,” said Delos Santos, anticipating a huge home crowd to show up and cheer the popular Indonesians.
The last time the two squads met in the international arena was three years ago in the Singapore SEA Games.
Open spiker Aprilia Manganang responded to doubts hurled by Filipino officials on her gender by towing the Indonesians to an emphatic straight-set win, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14.
Manganang remains leader of the Indonesians while the Filipinos tinkered with their volleyball program despite keeping the core of Aby Marano, Mika Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Alyssa Valdez and Kim Fajardo.
Delos Santos said they would do everything to beat the Indonesians.
“I don’t want to sound overconfident, but learning that they (Indonesians) lost a set to Hong Kong is already a sign that they are beatable,” he said. “If we’re going to display the same kind of grit and power we showed last Thursday, winning over Indonesia is very possible.”
Also tipped to carry the cudgels for the Filipinos are Majoy Baron, Jia Morado, Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili, Cha Cruz and Mylene Paat, who displayed tremendous performance in their 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 win over Hong Kong.
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