PH sweeps Malaysia for rousing SEA Games start

The Philippine women’s volleyball team kicked off its SEA Games campaign in style with a 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 sweep of Malaysia.

Jaja Santiago, Cess Molina, and Alyssa Valdez all delivered as the Filipinas notched a win after losing all their matches in the 2019 SEA Games.

(READ: PH off to promising start in SEA Games women’s volleyball after Malaysia sweep)

Preview

A better showing is expected from the Philippine women’s volleyball team as it opens its campaign in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam against Malaysia on Friday, May 13.

Eyeing a first podium finish since the 2005 edition of the biennial meet, the Filipinas seek to start off on the right foot by beating the Malaysians at the Dai Yen Arena in Quang Ninh.

Led by SEA Games veteran Alyssa Valdez, the national team hopes a rigorous training camp highlighted by a stop in Brazil will pay off in its quest to rebound from a fourth-place finish three years ago.

Only four teams competed in women’s volleyball when the country hosted the 2019 SEA Games, with Thailand winning gold, Vietnam bagging silver, and Indonesia copping bronze.

The number of women’s volleyball teams for this SEA Games has increased to five as Malaysia joined.

Also starring for the Philippines, which has Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito as one of its mentors, are Jaja Santiago, Aby Marano, Kat Tolentino, and Dawn Macandili.

Game time is 12 pm (Manila time).

– Rappler.com