Pontillas leads PH past India in AVC Challenge Cup

The Philippine women’s volleyball team celebrate after scoring a point against India in the AVC Challenge Cup in Indonesia. PHOTO FROM AVC FACEBOOK PAGE 

VETERAN spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas led the way as the Philippine women’s volleyball team outlasted India 25-22, 26-28, 11-25, 29-27, 18-16 at the AVC Challenge Cup in Gresik, Indonesia on Wednesday, June 21. The 35-year-old Maizo-Pontillas banged in 24 points including back-to-back kills in the fourth set that kept the Filipinos alive and forged a fifth set. Shaya Adorador also came through with 23 points while Faith Nisperos added 14 in the win that pushed the Philippines closer to a semifinals berth. The Philippines needs to defeat Australia today, June 23, to make the semis. The Filipinos engaged the Indians in a back-and-forth fifth set, where setter Djanel Cheng put the Philippines at match point 16-15 with a block on Anushree Kambrath. Aswani Kandoth, however, tied the count with a quick attack 16-16. Adorador and Cheng made sure that the Philippines would get the win as Adorador drilled a cross court attack and Cheng ended the match with a service ace.