The Choco Mucho Philippine women’s team bowed to Kazakhstan’s Zhetsyu Volleyball Club in straight sets, 25-14, 25-11, 25-23, to finish in sixth place in the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship on Thursday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Already out of the running for a podium spot, the national pool players tried to salvage a fifth-place finish in the continental competition but fell short in their push despite a spirited challenge in the third set that saw them fight back and threaten to extend the match.
Outside hitter Kalei Mau had 12 points for Choco Mucho, which ended the competition a rung higher over the other Philippine representative, Rebisco, in the seven-team field.
Overall, in five matches in this year’s edition of the Asian Club Championship, Choco Mucho ended with a 1-4 record.
The Choco Mucho and Rebisco teams were assembled by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, which used the tournament as part of its plans to shore up its national team program. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
