PH team finishes ninth in Asian Women's U18 Volleyball Championship

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar, Manila Bulletin

Team Philippines dominated India, 25-21, 25-19, 25-12, to finish ninth place in the 14th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship at the Nakhon Pathom Sports Centre Gymnasium in Thailand Monday.

Katherine Shaine Cortez, a standout from Bacolod Tay Tung High School, distributed the ball well with 26 excellent sets to be hailed as Player of the Game.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo bannered the PH team’s attacks with 16 points, while Dona Mae De Leon and Ana Francesa Hermosura chipped in 12 and nine points, respectively.

It was a revenge of sorts for the Jerry Ye-mentored squad after losing to India in the group stage, 25-14, 21-25, 23-25, 19-25, last week.

After escaping a tight opening set, the Filipina spikers dictated the tempo in the next two sets with a 20-16 advantage in the second frame and a 19-9 lead in the third.

The team is the youngest in the tournament and is composed of players from Western Visayas.