Power Pinoys face tall order against Qataris

Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
12 noon – Iraq vs Kazakhstan
2 p.m. – Iran vs Taiwan
4 p.m. – Qatar vs Philippines
6 p.m. – China vs Lebanon

After watching the taller and heftier teams from the Middle East clobber their rivals, the Philippine-PLDT HOME TVolution team will have to pray for a miracle when it battles Al-Rayyan of Qatar today in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The match is set at 4 p.m. with the Power Pinoys, who entered the last eight by finishing second in Pool A, need more breaks aside raising their game up several notches against their more experienced rival to advance to the next round.

The hosts made it to the quarters after finishing with an even 1-1 record – thanks to a 25-13, 25-23, 25-16 win over Mongolia in the opener.

Against Qatar, which currently plays in the Continental Club Tournament, the Philippine spikers cannot afford to commit many mistakes if they want to pull off a stunning upset.

“Experience-wise, wala tayo non masyado. Sabi ko nga, speed lang ang magdadala sa team natin na manalo. Sana ma-address namin yung mga kailangang i-adjust sa laro namin,” said Power Pinoys coach Francis Vicente after the end of their preliminary campaign.

The Qataris, last year’s runners-up to the Iranians, advanced to the Round of 8 by dropping only one set in four games in Pool D.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Huu Ha scored 20 points as Vietnam’s Duc Long Gia Lai edged Mongolia, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, yesterday in the consolation round for the 9th to 16th places.

Oman’s Sohar Club rose from a two-set meltdown and outplayed Japan’s Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, 17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 28-26, 15-7, also in the consolation round. Younis Alaamri exploded for 23 points highlighted by 18 kills and four blocks for Oman.

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