REBISCO-Philippines finally cracked the win column after scoring a 25-14, 22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-11 victory over Sri Lanka’s CEB Sports Club at the end of its campaign in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship on Wednesday in Thailand.
“This is our first exposure and we hope to become better for the next edition,” coach Dante Alinsunurin said. “We are hopeful for the continued rise of the level of Philippine volleyball on its return to the international scene.”
Jao Umandal capped a tournament-long brilliancy by scoring 28 points–including a kill that sealed the Filipinos’ ninth place finish–against the Sri Lankans.
The University of Santo Tomas standout also had five blocks and three service aces.
Stepping up big in the absence of Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who are plying their trade in Japan, Umandal had a coming out party in the competition, the national team’s first since the historic 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medal run.
Rebisco also displayed a balanced offense with skipper John Vic de Guzman and Nico Almendras finishing with 11 points each and Kim Malabunga and Francis Saura contributing 10 pojnts apiece.
“Perhaps the biggest lesson we will take is to pounce on whoever is on the other side whenever we can,” De Guzman said. “After this, I know we need to work on our composure and on our focus on everything we do.”
Mark Alfafara added eight points in two sets before sitting out the rest of the two-hour and 18-minute match.
The Filipinos–whose participation was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Asics–had 19 blocks, with middles Saura and Malabunga combining for 10.
It was Philippines’ third appearance in the men’s continental club competition and the first since the country, represented by Cignal HD, finished 12th in 2015 in Chinese-Taipei.
