It was another tough outing for Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup, losing in three sets to host Bahrain.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Soil of Bahrain but the team Philippines or Alas Pilipinas will be playing
00:05 alongside the sixth man or the seventh man for team Pilipinas and that of
00:12 Filipinos of course working in Bahrain to try and set up the two-man wall of
00:17 the black point. That's Kim once again. First two points belonging to Kim Malabunga
00:26 for Alas Pilipinas. Seven points against Bahrain last year. Kim Malabunga
00:31 yesterday had a total of five. By the way the first two points came from
00:37 Muhammad Abdulia Yacoub for Bahrain but now Alas Pilipinas has another answer.
00:42 And the answer? KM. Kim Malabunga activate. Why not until they defend him?
00:49 Keep feeding the middle blocker. That's Kim at his best. This time it's going to be
00:57 Oweretamar and Belio of course. Joseph Belio. Two very tall setters by the way.
01:01 Opposite hit. Ball kept alive by Alas Pilipinas. Good shot defense. One more. Ibanez onto
01:09 Espejo. Three man block. No problem. Espejo had about 50 points in two matches
01:16 last year's edition of the Challenge Cup together with Steven Roether that was
01:21 the dreaded two-headed dragon for Team Philippines. And how many players
01:25 commands a 3-8? Former players, six new players coming in joining this
01:30 roster for this year. 8-7 Odiales tried to be smart with it and that actually
01:35 worked for him. Off the black point. Making the adjustment. This is a young man who
01:43 hasn't even stepped foot in the UAAP. Imagine the damage that he can do.
01:48 It's now 16-12. Biggest lead reached. Umandal, yes. Good answer here for
01:55 Jau Umandal. One of the best players in the country right now from UST of course.
02:01 An MVP and also a champion. 23-16.
02:08 You see by Umandal, it's Odiales attacking from the right pin. Better first ball.
02:13 Odiales with a quick hit. Too easy for Yacub. It's now 2-love. It's set 2 and
02:20 there's the answer from Josafat. Formerly of the Union Red Warriors. Well, that has been the
02:26 most successful spot offensively for Team Philippines. Saw that from Kim Malabong
02:31 earlier. Well at least three straight points for Team Philippines. Awarit Amar.
02:36 With a point that is fourth serving one. Lorenzo first ball. Betamar onto Malabonga.
02:43 And again, that spot. The most successful spot where we get the most number of
02:49 points. That was against Hassan Haider. One of the youngest players.
02:58 Combined for 18 points yesterday. Ball straight to net and here's the
03:02 counter by Bahrain. Lorenzo sending it onto the other side. A good chance.
03:06 Red play. Wow! Single block by Mark Espejo. Excellent defense by Espejo.
03:15 Turning defense into offense but more than that. Stopping a good scoring run here.
03:19 Excellent play. That was against player number 13.
03:25 Betamar. And that ball inside. It's an attack from the open. Blocked by a Las
03:32 Filipinas. Another spiker for Bahrain. That did not work. Espejo against two
03:39 blockers. Coverage present. Josafat trying to push it. Backs in. Free ball. This is a chance ball.
03:46 And he capitalized. Betamar. Espejo puts it away. Definitely an excellent set.
03:52 Best transition play for the Philippines. Good response with a two-point run for
03:58 a Las Filipinas. Combination play. Good misdirection by Josafat. That was the
04:03 best look so far in this game for Mark Espejo. Correct. Especially if you're an opposite spiker.
04:09 Countering the open hitters. Full front line right now for Bahrain. Espejo able to get it
04:16 through. Espejo needs his touches really. One from the open. The other from the
04:21 opposite end. Just look at that picture perfect work. Josafat delaying the double block.
04:28 Jade by the way is giving up some inches but he does have the elevation. And now
04:32 that's an ace for Mark Espejo. Lifeline is back for team Philippines. Down 12-7
04:37 behind. Right now by two points Mark Espejo. Punting life for the Philippines
04:44 in set number two. Look at that side spin.
04:50 And a lead in control. Service for Muhammad Abdulia. Back row hit. Mark Espejo is feeling it.
04:59 Again getting his touches. Retamar feeding Espejo. From the pipe. From the service line.
05:06 From the right flank. Espejo very productive here in set number two after
05:11 a quiet spell in set one.
05:15 Time for him to rise once again for team Philippines. Nice block. Malabunga
05:22 working together with Esquinado. Moving better again. A number of block attempts
05:26 for team Philippines. Definitely has been much more here in set number two.
05:32 Esquim Malabunga with a reflex. 14 serving 12. Received by Vince Lorenzo.
05:39 Bit of a chase for Oa. It's a Mandau block but that goes straight outside.
05:43 Off the block point coming from Jauhmandal.
05:48 Against a triple block. UAAP champion as well. 16-13.
05:58 Disquitado. Another chance and now he converts.
06:01 Disquitado. We've seen his rise. One point scorer last night against China.
06:07 Did not play in set one. Scored in set two. Came off the bench in
06:13 set three. Disquitado. 18 in set number two.
06:18 Can they actually get over the hump of Mr. Sieb?
06:22 It's a line of set again. Counter. Tamar onto Josafat. That's good teamwork
06:28 between Josafat and Retamar. Fight back continues.
06:32 In the first set after the midpoint there was a big scoring run.
06:36 But right now the Philippines play much better. Very steady really.
06:39 This wonderful play. Disquitado's turn. That drops.
06:46 That's the value of a J. Disquitado.
06:50 Definitely a gem for men's volleyball. Beats a double block.
06:58 One point in their previous game coming off the bench. That was two.
07:05 21 serving 19. Hussain Agudia serving that ball in. Combination play.
07:10 Marcus Pejo detonating from the back. Excellent first ball.
07:16 Retamar saw that a lot of times from the other side in the UAP.
07:22 That pipe play was hidden by that nice combination play run by Retamar.
07:29 Misdirection by Josafat. I wonder if Oa will have the same idea at this point.
07:33 That's what he has been doing here in set two.
07:36 Yaku blocked. Kim Balabunga coming alive and more importantly we now have a deadlock.
07:41 And because of the number of block attempts by the Philippines.
07:45 You can see the Baharein now seemingly also being tentative at times.
07:50 Something that we did not see from them in that set one win.
07:54 That was actually Jau Omandal getting the block point.
07:57 See them celebrate. Service for Sayed inside. Jau receives.
08:03 That's Jay Disquitado who almost scored. Scramble.
08:08 And this is oh a nice block by Jau. Good chance. Retamar back sets. Disquitado again.
08:15 Dropping it. And that was almost kept alive by Baharein.
08:20 Good change of pace coming from Disquitado. Good disguise.
08:25 Taking a strong hit and going off speed. Staying close. Helping the Philippines.
08:30 Stay afloat. The young man for Alas Milipinas playing with nerves of steel in this game.
08:38 Mind you he was born 2004. That was the mark yesterday for Team Philippines.
08:43 They weren't able to get through it against China.
08:46 Retamar back set to Jay. Is that in? Yes. A point for Alas Milipinas.
08:54 Check that. Muhammad Abdullah. As now it's Omandal against two blockers and he prevails.
09:03 Omandal and Espejo played much much better in that set two loss.
09:08 As Otamara found ways to help our pin hitters elude.
09:14 Baharein just not surrendering the lead to Alas Milipinas.
09:17 Received by Lorenzo. Retamar pushes to Jau.
09:20 Omandal will score. This time off the block.
09:25 Better percentage for Omandal and Espejo. Marks this Jake Disquitado.
09:37 Good start for him in set number three. Good serve as well.
09:40 The back row. Camis couldn't score. Counter. Pipe on the other end.
09:44 Rally continues. Jau Omandal cross court hit.
09:49 So now he's coming alive. Right.
09:55 Omandal, Espejo and Jake Disquitado.
09:59 Look at the power coming from Espejo. Back to Dufino. It's now nine serving six.
10:08 What a serve. Front line for Mahmood.
10:10 A drop by Oa. Signature Oa Retamar.
10:13 One of the best scoring centers that we have in the country.
10:17 Look at that one-two play. Perfect touch.
10:20 It was an absolute opening for the UAP finals MVP.
10:25 Away from Aiman. Yeah.
10:26 No chance of saving there. In captain. Lacer Anan.
10:32 Serving that ball sharply inside.
10:35 Misreceived by Lorenzo. This is a chance ball of the ages.
10:39 Ainan again. Ball up by Jau Omandal.
10:43 Retamar pushes to the open. Disquitado against three blockers.
10:46 Kept alive. Ainan again.
10:48 Setting it back onto the right. Made a missed touch there but
10:53 that defense still able to return it. Josafat.
10:58 And that ends the rally.
11:00 Good transition point here for the Philippines.
11:06 Could have been down by four.
11:07 What about that shoot set coming from Retamar. Perfect.
11:15 Safe one at that. Lorenzo first ball.
11:17 That's Jade. Elevation. In or out? It was in.
11:21 This should be his breakout game. Yes. Yes.
11:32 On the national stage.
11:34 Or the international stage. Can't even see the ball.
11:39 Upwards. Imagine it was a lower view.
11:41 Disquitado. Full swing for him. Yes. Yes. Yes.
11:48 Overpowering. The giant of the net.
11:52 Keeping the Philippines alive.
11:54 We've seen that hundreds of times. Yes.
11:59 What about Josafat once again? Extracting that middle blocker.
12:06 Will they have another service ever?
12:10 Not yet. Not this time.
12:12 Malabunga. Able to detonate from the middle.
12:16 From a different spot. In the endgame.
12:20 22-18. First ball by Espejo.
12:25 It's Malabunga. Able to score off the block.
12:28 With a better first quarter. Able to once again get to Kim Malabunga who scored
12:32 the last two points for the Philippines.
12:34 This is for survival in the tournament.
12:40 Backs it. And that's a point off the block.
12:43 A win for Bahrain on their home soil. And the last point belongs to Hachem Ali Sayed.
12:49 The best chance for the Philippines was in set number two.
12:52 As we were right there. Right there. For the taking.
12:55 Only for Bahrain to break the hearts of Alas Pilipinas.
12:59 And they do it again.
12:59 They replicate what they were able to do last year against the Philippines.
13:03 Winning in three straight sets.