The Philippines’ Rebisco club absorbed another defeat this time at the hands of Iran’s Saipa, 24-26, 25-22, 13-25, 17-25, in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Sunday at the Terminal 21 competition hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Mona Ashofteh and Mahsa Kadkhoda rallied back Iran after Rebisco’s second-set revival as Saipa clinched third place in Pool B and forged a knockout quarterfinal against Pool A’s No. 2 team Zhetysu of Kazakhstan on Monday.
Rebisco placed last in Pool B and will take on Pool A leader Nakhon Ratchasima in the do-or-die quarterfinals on Monday.
The Filipina Spikers played their best game in the tournament so far as Dindin Santiago-Manabat joined hands with young guns Faith Nisperos and Mhicaela Belen to win the second set and tie the match at one set apiece.
However, Manabat and Co. lost steam in the last two sets, failing to contain the offensive fire power of the Iranians led by Ashofteh.
Choco Mucho, the other Philippine club that also had a winless group stage campaign, is slated to take on Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi.
Kazakh club Altay earned the remaining outright semifinal berth in the group by beating Supreme Chonburi, 25-23, 25-12, 25-14.
