MANILA, Philippines — Bigo sina Sofia Pagara at Khylem Progella na masundan ang matikas na simula nito matapos yumuko kina Yu Tong at Jiang Kaiyue ng China kahapon sa Rebisco Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open na ginaganap sa Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Nakabalik sa porma ang Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Invitational champions sa second set kung saan nakuha nito ang 12-9 kalamangan.
Subalit naudlot ang ratsada ng Pinay spikers matapos ang krusyal na officiating call dahilan para mawala ang momento nito.
“It’s about momentum in beach volleyball, and it was quite disheartening right when we were getting our groove back. Our run was cut short just because of that very wrong call,” ani ng 19-nyos na si Progella.
Dahil dito, bagsak sa 1-1 sina Pagara at Progella.
Nauna nang tinalo nina Pagara at Progella sina Malaysians Ee Ling Pua at Rachael sa event na inorganisa ni PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara na siya ring AVC chief.
Hindi rin pinalad ang Philippine men’s team kung saan yumuko sina Lerry John Francisco at Edwin Tolentino kina Thailand bets Surin Jongklang at Kittituch Khomkham, 14-21, 12-21, para mahulog sa 0-2.
Talo rin sina Ronniel Rosales at Alex Iraya kina Yosi Firnanda at Danangsyah Pribadi, 16-21, 20-22, upang malaglag din sa 0-2.
Sa iba pang resulta, wagi sina Iranians Ghalehnovi Amirali at Salemiinjehboroun Bahman kina Chinese duo Mao Yuan at Lui Yuan, 21-18, 21-7, habang nanalo sina Kai Kurokawa at Ryuichi Adachi ng Japan kina Lee Cheukhei at Lee Liftung ng Malaysia, 21-14, 21-13.