Philippines gets breakthrough AVC Cup win with four-set romp of Iran

The Philippine national women’s volleyball team finally tasted a victory, defeating Iran in four sets with a 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14 triumph in the 2022 AVC Cup for Women on Wednesday.

The win allowed the hosts to improve to 1-2 in Group A while Iran fell to identical 1-2 slate.

The Filipinas started slow but were quick to get their act together with Ced Domingo giving the home team a slim 16-15 lead.

They started to pull away after that juncture, closing out the opening frame with a 9-4 run led capped by an attack from Michele Gumabao.

The visitors tried to take the momentum away from the Philippines, even leading by three at some point in the second, 17-14.

But Gumabao again knotted the scoreline to 22-all before back-to-back errors from Iran sent the Philippines to two sets ahead, 25-22.

With fatigue kicking in, the nationals slowed down in the third set, which Iran dominated with a 25-20 conquest to extend the match.

But they came right back up in Set 4 with Gumabao bringing them up by six, 15-9. The Creamline-bannered squad held on en route to their breakthrough win in the tournament.

Jema Galanza led the Philippines with a team-high 21 points, including the game-winning attack, while Gumabao finished with 13 markers. Tots Carlos chipped in 14 as middle blockers Domingo and Jeanette Panaga chimed in with nine markers apiece.

The nationals will look to make it second win in a row when they take on a young South Korean squad on Thursday.

—JMB, GMA News