AVC Cup 2023: PH falls to Iran, battles Uzbekistan for seventh place

The Philippine women's national volleyball team (PWNVT) continued to slide in the 2023 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women after dropping their second straight match against Iran in straight sets, 25-20, 25-13, 25-16, on Saturday, June 24, at Tri Dharma Petrokimia Gresik Gymnasium in Gresik, Indonesia.

With the defeat to the Iranian side, PWNVT was relegated to the battle for seventh place against Uzbekistan. The Uzbeks earlier suffered a 25-21, 17-25, 28-26, 25-19 loss to Australia.

Iran, on the other hand, and Australia will clash for the fifth spot.

Poor serve reception, resulting in recycled plays, made it easy for Iran to control the pace and wallop the hapless de Brito side.

Outside hitters Shaya Adorador and Faith Nisperos also struggled with their attacking that benefitted Iran for the entirety of the match.

Set 1 was the closest frame the Philippines had come close to Iran, with the next two seemingly one-sided in favor of the latter.

The second set saw the Filipinas momentarily seize a 7-6 lead until the Iranians exploded.
Iran's power trio of Mahsa Kadkhoda, Ashofteh Mona, and Amini Fatemeh spearheaded the charge, and the rest followed through.

Down 11-13, the nationals led by veteran opposite spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas tallied three straight points capped by Iran's error to take the front, 14-13, in the third set.

Unfazed by the Filipinas showing signs of life, Iran quickly retook the lead, 17-15.

Adorador brought the Philippines within one, 16-17, but the Iranians were just unstoppable, completing the sweep.

The 3-0 beating was the Philippines' third loss in the tournament and second in a row as they got beaten by Australia on Friday.

Winning versus the Australians could have sent them to the semifinals. Unfortunately, they dropped that match, setting the stage for them to take on Iran in the classification round.

The Philippines defeated Iran last year in the same competition, but that time, players from Creamline Cool Smashers represented the national team.

Mostly comprised of Akari Chargers mentored by PWNVT's head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, the nationals failed to replicate the four-set win their predecessors achieved the last time.

At worst, they were swept by the same team the Cool Smashers beat.

The PWNVT's roster was only announced a few days before the official start of the qualifying tournament.

The AVC Challenge Cup for Women winner will represent Asia in this year's FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup.

Topping the FIVB's Challenger Cup will give the champion team a spot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) next year, replacing the last-place country in the ongoing VNL.