Rebisco continued to struggle, this time losing to Al-Arabi Sports Club in straight sets, 19-25, 15-25, 19-25, in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Terminal 21 competition hall on Sunday evening in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Head coach Dante Alinsurin tinkered with his roster, fielding in all but three players in the match. Joshua Umandal led the team’s charge with 17 pts off 15 attacks, one block and one ace.
Alinsinurin was also all praises for veteran playmaker Ish Polvorosa, who stepped in for starter Joshua Retamar.
“Joshua (Retamar) normally starts as our setter but as you can see I called up Ish (Polvorosa) today to do the playmaking,” he said. “I commend his court sense and you really saw how veteran he is when it comes to ball distribution.”
Libero Manuel Sumanguid III, who is making his international debut this year, also provided a glimpse of how the team could become as soon as it gets those matches and international exposure to get to the Asian level of competition.
“Everyone is hungry to play and we are doing our very best,” said Sumanguid, who started for the first time in Rebisco’s three matches in its first international exposure since the squad was out together two months ago by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
“We are doing a lot of sacrifices with our time and away from our families, you can really see our hunger to excel,” he said. “Every time Coach Dante (Alinsunurin) fields us in, he reminds us to do our best, to grab that opportunity.”
The Qataris, a team that had an average height of 6-foot-5, displayed superiority with Brazilian Felipe Bandero making an impromptu service clinic with six aces to finish with 21 points.
The 6-foot-7 Qatari reinforcement also had three blocks, while 6-foot-9 Mohamed Ibrahim and 6-foot-5 Kennedy Chigbo had two blocks apiece.
Al-Arabi SC remained undefeated in two matches. (JNP)