PLDT High Speed Hitters in the quarterfinals of the Champions League AVC. –Marlo Cueto / Inquirer.net
In a field filled with teams much larger and athletic armed with different play styles and much more experience, PLDT knew that it was a difficult battle in the Froke Champions League.
And high-speed strikers could not evolve which seems to be the highest peak in the tournament, losing out of driving after losing in two sets towards Zhesysu VC from Kazakhstan, 25-13, 25-22, 25-20, in the quarter-finals Thursday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“In general, the other teams are just at a higher level,” said coach Rald Ricafort in Philippin after his crew has given everything but well against the talented Kazakhs.
“What made us difficult is the experience of (opposite) clubs as a team, their exhibition (and) they have been together for a long time,” said Ricafort, but not without withdrawing something from the first international passage of his team.
“So, for us to bring together this experience together is something that we have to cherish, because it will compensate for the team’s link and chemistry.”
The Kazakhs were put forward to face Nakhon Ratchasima in the semi-finals after the Squad Thai Squad Bamboled PVL Powerful, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, in the last glass.
Anyse Marlee Smith collected 13 points while onuma Sittirak and Sasipapron Janthawisut contributed to 12 points each, while the Thai people did a short work on the Cool Smashers and their three imports.
LAST PH Club Alive
And that left Petro Gazza as the lonely PH side standing, with the angels to fight the Baic Power Baic engine of Chinese Power Friday at 7 p.m. at 7 p.m.
PLDT was able to pass the preliminary round after finishing second in his group and drawing the best classified Kazakhs in the quarters. It would be the last stop of high -speed strikers, because Zhetysu VC overwhelmed the local crew with its height, its intelligent games and its good angles of attack.
The Kazakhstan crew has not lost a set in three games in total, and playing this kind of team was a good example of what high -speed strikers would like to be because they get more experience by playing together for chemistry.
“But with the trends I can see, we are not so far from them,” said Ricafort.
Kazakhstan has stuck the inhabitants with their style of play. The visiting squad also had a significantly better ground defense.
After losing the opening framework, PLDT threatened to take the second set using a 5-0 sequence to take an advance of 21-20, but the Kazakhs resumed just in time for a 2-0 lead.
Zhetysu reached an advantage of 19-15 in the third with the attack by Kristina Anikonova before Pldt cut at 20-19. However, much larger kazakhs have nailed the closed match with a 4-0 sequence.
“We will end up reaching their level. Maybe it was just easier for them because there was nothing to happen in Philippin volleyball for a while because of the pandemic,” said Ricafort.
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Tatyana Nikitina fed the Kazakhs in the semi-finals with 19 points of 14 attacks and four blocks, Karina Denisova helped with 15 points composed of 13 attacks and two blocks while Yuliya Dymar added 11 attack points for Zhetysu.
