Host Philippines failed to sustain its fiery second set showing as it crumbled against the might of Thailand, 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 9-25, in the quarterfinals of the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women at the Philsports Arena Saturday evening.
Michele Gumabao and Tots Carlos willed the Filipinas in the second set to steal a frame against the world no. 14 Thais – the country’s first set win over Thailand since winning the Southeast Asian Games gold medal in 1993 – to split the match.
But the more experienced regional powerhouse unleashed its vaunted arsenal led by Chatchu-on Moksri and Pumpichaya Kokram to silence the home team and the 5,200-strong home crowd.
Thailand will face defending champion China in the semifinals on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. while the Philippines is relegated in the classification phase for 5th to 8th spot.
The Philippines will face Australia at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
Gumabao finished with 13 points, Carlos scored all her 12 markers from attacks while Celine Domingo added eight markers for the Filipinas. Jema Galanza had a quiet night with only six points.
Energized by its second set win, the Philippines battled Thailand in a neck-and-neck race, tying the frame at 19. The Thais were able to counter with successive points for a closing 6-1 blast.
Smelling blood, Thailand built a double-digit lead in the fourth frame to finish off the Filipinas.
Moksri led Thailand with 21 points built on 20 attacks and an ace while Kokram had 14 markers from 13 attacks and a kill block.