PH volleybelles beat Uzbekistan behind Faith Nisperos' 17, finishes seventh in AVC Challenge Cup 2023
2023-Jun-26 11:51
2024-Jul-19 07:35
FINISHING STRONG. The Philippines finished seventh in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women 2023 after thumping Uzbekistan in four sets. PHOTO: Asian Volleyball Confederation/Facebook
Faith Nisperos led the Philippine women's national volleyball team's (PWNVT) 25-14, 13-25, 25-18, 25-18 four-set triumph against Uzbekistan to finish seventh in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women 2023 at Tri Dharma Petrokimia Gresik Gymnasium in East Java, Indonesia on Sunday, June 26.
Newly-signed Akari Chargers outside hitter Nisperos registered 17 points for the Philippines, which recovered from a huge second-set defeat to overcome the gusty Central Asians and end their two-game losing skid.
The nationals got beaten by Australia on Friday, which eliminated them from semifinals contention, before absorbing a straight-set sweep in the hands of Iran on Saturday that relegated them to the battle for seventh place.
Upcoming Foton Tornadoes captain Shaya Adorador added 13 points, and Petro Gazz Angels opposite spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas contributed 12 markers for the Jorge Souza de Brito-mentored volleybelles that went up to the latest International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) ranking after their AVC Challenge Cup campaign.
The Philippines currently ranks 59th in the world, moving two notches higher after crashing to 61st following their back-to-back losses against the Australians and Iranians. The nationals are one of the three best movers in the ranking, alongside Vietnam and Mongolia, starting the competition ranked 162nd.
De Brito'side asserted dominance in the opening set to claim a 1-0 lead; however, Uzbekistan got the best of them in the following frame, dominating the Filipinas to level the scoreline with Tursunpulatova Malikakhon and Boymirzayeva Dilnoza dealing most of the damage.
Rising to the occasion, Nisperos and the rest vented ire against the Uzbeks in the third set, which gave them momentum entering Set 4.
The fourth and final set saw the nationals turn a slim 12-10 lead into a 22-15 cushion.
An Erika Raagas hit put the Philippines at match point, 24-16, but Askarova Zarnigora answered with back-to-back kills to extend the set before middle blocker Ezra Madrigal unleashed her match-clinching quick attack. Madrigal had nine points.
Dilnoza bannered Uzbekistan with 13 points, followed by fellow middle blocker Toshkenboyeva Khodisakhon's 10 markers in a losing effort.
Uzbekistan settled for eighth place in the 11-nation AVC Cup 2023, serving as the Asian teams' qualifying stage for this year's FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup scheduled on July 27-30.
The FIVB Challenger Cup champion is assured of a spot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2024, as the winning country will replace the last-place squad in the ongoing VNL.
Vietnam beats Indonesia for AVC Cup 2023 title
HOST BEATER.Vietnam women's national volleyball team denied Indonesia of the AVC Challenge Cup for Women 2023 crown in a hard-fought five-set victory. PHOTO: Asian Volleyball Confederation/Facebook
SEA Games 2023 silver medalist Vietnam took down host Indonesia in a thrilling five-set encounter, 25-18, 25-27, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13, to deny the latter of the lone FIVB Challenger Cup ticket.
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (T4) detonated 23 points to help the Vietnamese national team overcome a 1-2 set deficit. The 25-year-old outside hitter, playing for PFU Blue Cats in the Japan V. League Division 1 since 2021, was named tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) and one of the two Best Outside Hitter awardees, alongside Chinese Taipei's Wu Fang-yu.
Other individual award winners include T4 teammates Đoàn Thị Lâm Oanh (Best Setter) and Đinh Thị Trà Giang (Best Middle Blocker). Completing this star-studded cast are Indonesia's Wilda Nurfadhilah (Best Middle Blocker), Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi (Best Opposite Spiker), and Yulis Indahyani (Best Libero).
By emerging victorious in the AVC Challenge Cup, Vietnam got another shot to show what Vietnamese volleyball is globally as their club team, Sports Center, secured a berth in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship last May.
Ranking-wise, Vietnam also achieved a milestone after rising to the 49th spot worldwide from rank 174.
Meanwhile, Indonesia bagged silver and fell to the 60th rank.
Chinese Taipei, on the other hand, defeated India behind a lopsided 25-13, 25-15, 25-18 victory to snare the bronze medal.
Iran ousted Australia in the battle for fifth within four sets, 25-20, 19-25, 25-18, 25-20.