Sri Lanka lose to Philippines 0-3

Bernard Perera in Manila

Sri Lankan Youth Women Spikers who participated in their Group A match in the Seventh Asian Youth Women Volleyball Championship lost to the host country Philippines three sets to nil in their second game yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City (25 -13, 25 - 20, 25 -12).

Lankans after losing the first 13 -25 without posing big challenge to their opponents came back to the next set with determination got off to a better start. The Lankans were leading at 3- 0 and moved along swiftly reach a comfortable four point lead 8- 4.

There onwards it was the turn of the host country team to take the maximum out of the mistakes the Lankans made.

This, they took to their advantage and got past the Lankan total by scoring five straight points to be ahead 9 - 8. The Philippines never made mistakes to give the visitors the chance to come to level terms.

They held on to this lead and completed the set at 25 - 20. The Lankan Girls at this stage tried everything possible to make fight back collecting three quick points which slightly brought some sort off pressure to the opposition. But once again the homesters put up a good show to stay in the lead grabbing points at every given opportunity and won the to be on a firm ground.

Lankas failed specially in their serves conceding many points. This was the main cause or their down fall during this set.

The third set began with the Philippines well placed and the Lankans looking for a better performance to make a match of it. At the early stage Lankan girls collected two points to be ahead but failed with their serves once again and let the opponents take control of the situation.

This they made it their winning way and went along easily to finish the set at 25 -12. The third was the worst set played by the Lankan spikers as they were never seen trying to pose a threat to Philippines. If not for the many mistakes they made during the whole match Philippines would not have gone to thrash the Lankans in that easy manner.

It is a fact that this Youth team is lacking international experience but after facing an international game the previous day they should have played better than first day. The spiking displayed yesterday by them showed that still lack the confidence to face tough situations.

The Lankans with this defeat will have to fight for the rankings from eighth place to twelveth placing along with the other three teams that fail to the top eight from the other groups.

Korea one of the seeds to win the Asian Youth Women title playing in a Group C won against another contender for the title Thailand after a tense battle. The match ended in favour of the Koreans three frames to two (25 - 22, 17 - 25, 22 - 25, 17 -25, 15 -13).

Korean girls were off to a flyer taking first set comfortably at 25 - 22. But things changed soon when the second set began with the Thai girls making a strong fight back to take the set in highly completive manner. Infact the set ended with the Thais winning at 25 - 17 to come to equal terms 1 - 1.

The third set too was evenly contested by both teams but at the final stage Korea made it in their favour and went ahead once again 2 -1. Thai youth team made amends by winning the fouth set to equalize 2 - 2 which also sent the game to its maximum of five sets.

The fifth set saw the Thai girls getting an early lead but the strong Koreans fought back gallantly to outplay their opponents at final minutes at 15 -13 to keep their hopes alive to make it to the final four. China the highly team for the championship title had on their own playing against Chinese Taipei in a Group D game played in the evening at the Philsports Arena, Pasig City in Manila. The match ended at 3 - 0 (25 - 15, 25 - 18, 25 - 17).

Chinese girls had no difficulty at all against the Taipei keeping the lowly placed opponents at bay almost right throughout the game. In fact the Chinese never allowed to Taipei girls go past the 20 point mark in all three sets.