June 3 ------ ALAS Pilipinas lost in straight sets to world No. 32 and Asia's fifth-ranked side China, 19-25, 22-25, 22-25, in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Manama, Bahrain.
With just two games to play in the pool phase, the Philippines must win its prelims finale versus Bahrain and hope that the hosts either lose to China or end up with an inferior sets ratio to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. In the absence of Taiwan-bound Bryan Bagunas, who had to fulfill club obligations which coincided with the AVC tilt, co-captains Marck Espejo and Jau Umandal manned the nationals' crestfallen yet hard-fought first act. It also marked the national team debut of back-to-back UAAP men's volleyball MVP and two-time best outside hitter Josh Ybañez. And in his converted role as a libero, his first-ever playing position in volleyball growing up, the University of Sto. Tomas ace played his part in combatting the Chinese offense all-match long.
The tight scorelines across all three sets could've tipped in favor of Alas if it weren't for unforced errors, most of which came in the opening frame, which propelled the towering Chinese squad to a blazing start in the tournament. Despite its high ranking in the continent and the world, China was relegated from last year's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) by virtue of being the bottom-ranked nation in the 16-team field. It will now have to earn its way back to the VNL, with two chances to do so: either by winning the ongoing AVC Challenge Cup or, if it fails to do so, win the FIVB Challenger Cup on home soil in the city of Linyi from July 4 to 7.
Only the Challenge Cup winner and its host nation China will secure a spot in the four-day intercontinental tournament which will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 VNL. Alas' bid for survival won't be easy on enemy territory. More so, Bahrain got the better of the Philippines in a 20-25, 17-25, 23-25 win during the classification phase of the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup.
Source: spin.ph
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