MANILA Philippines – in front of a cheering crowd at the Philsports Arena, Creamline Philippines made a valiant effort before losing to Chinese-Taipei, 26-28, 21-25, 21-25, to finish sixth in the AVC Cup for Women.

Monday in front of a supportive audience at the Philsports Arena.  After last Sunday’s exciting 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 15-12 triumph against Australia, the women’s national team displayed no signs of exhaustion as they gave the Taiwanese everything they could handle in the lengthy opening set before losing. 

With team captain Chang Li-Wen in charge, Chinese-Taipei took control of the following two sets and was successful in keeping the Philippines’ star spiker Tots Carlos scoreless in the third.

The sixth-place finish for the host nation, which included three victories, was its best in a continental competition since taking fifth place in the 1983 Third Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

“Actually, the three wins is a blessing,” says team coach Sherwin Meneses. “Three wins is history. We are very thankful for the players who sacrificed because the games are played every day.”

The Philippines handily outperformed the nation’s ninth-place finish in the 2018 edition in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, by winning two pool matches against Iran and South Korea and defeating Australia in last Sunday’s opening classification game.

Coach Meneses further emphasizes, “Team familiarity and chemistry are important in a tournament like this.”

Michele Gumabao scored nine points while Ced Domingo finished with 12 points and two blocks. 

Jema Galanza recorded eight kills, Jeanette Panaga added eight points — three of them coming from blocks — and Tots Carlos scored seven. 

In the third set, Chang, who finished with nine of the match’s top 18 points, commended the Philippines for giving her team a tough fight before finishing in fifth place.

“The Philippines is a good team, they have good speed so we used strong service. Sometimes it is fast, sometimes it’s a short ball. They are focused on reception,” said Chang of Chinese Taipei as the match concluded, ending in their victory for 5^th place in the tournament.

The Taiwanese opposite hitter continued, “They always give the ball to the outside spikers and we are ready. We practiced with their outside spikers.”

The Philippines pulled off a gallant stand but ultimately absorbed a hard fought defeat against Chinese Taipei for a sixth place finish in the 2022 PNVF AVC Cup for Women.

The Nationals’ prior performance in 2018 was surpassed with this result. They came in tenth place there. 

Celine Domingo, a middle blocker, gave the Philippines’ offense a boost with 12 points on 11 attacks and 1 block. Jeanette Panaga, a different center attacker, contributed eight points on four spikes, three blocks, and one service ace. 

After numerous deuces and behind by three set points at 21-24, the Nationals went on a rally to win the opening set. In the end, Chinese Taipei was given a chance in transition to conclude the period and take the lead 1-0.

In the second set, there was still a struggle, but the Philippines was unable to gain the upper hand. Chinese Taipei, led by captain Chang Li-Wen, entered the third quarter with its offensive on track for a fifth-place finish. 

Chinese Taipei took advantage of careless passing by the Philippines to take the lead at 16-13 after trailing at the start of the third. However, the visitors turned to their captain for the win despite the red shirts’ best efforts to create a comeback. 

Chang Li-Wen, the team’s captain and opposite hitter, led the visitors with 18 points on 14 attacks, three blocks, and an ace serve. However, Chen Tzu-Ya was there to halt every run made by the Filipinos and finished with 11 spike points.

Jia De Guzman, the setter and captain of the Philippines, said the squad was appreciative of the chance to represent the nation.

“Yung mga wins and losses na nakuha namin in this AVC Cup is super priceless talaga. Sobrang makatutulong sa ‘min whether in PVL or kung mabigyan kami uli ng chance internationally, ite-take lang namin,” the six time PVL Best Setter said.

(The wins and losses we got in this AVC Cup are really super priceless. It will help me a lot whether in PVL or if we are given another chance internationally, we will just take it.)

Despite their valiant efforts, the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team came in sixth and could not defeat Chinese-Taipei.

As many of the players, the coach, and surely the majority of the fans of the PWVNT, we played a tourney for the Filipina volleybelles. There is surely more to come for Philippine women’s volleyball.