MANILA -- Jaja Santiago made it complicated for Indonesia to sweep the Philippines as she helped send their sizzling match into a fourth set, but Aprilia Manganang made a heroic deed in the next period to end the match in the host nation's favor, 25-20, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, at the Gelura Bung Karno Complex in Jakarta, Saturday.
Manganang blasted for 26 points consisting of 27 spikes and a block, which became a headache for the Philippines.
Alyssa Valdez led the Filipinas with 16 points comprising of 14 spikes and both a block and a service ace.
From the technical timeout, Mylene Paat led the defense of the Philippines to stop the monstrous play of Manganang to cut its deficit in the third set to a single point, 19-18, and she made it even to 19 from the touch of Mika Reyes via the recovery of Kim Fajardo.
Paat eventually performed her best in the fourth set with six points including four spikes and one for both block and service ace.
After Valdez kept the Philippines afloat later in the set, Santiago put the team to set point, 24-23, but Manganang equalized.
However, Santiago once again scored to put the Philippines up, and with her brilliant service ace, she sent the Philippines into fourth set, 26-24.
The host finally cleaned up everything to finish fourth set.
The Philippines will now face the 2016 Olympic champs China, who had a clean record in Pool B, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
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