Japan girls Asian volleyball champs; RP 8th

MANILA, Philippines – Japan was crowned champion of the seventh Asian Youth Girls Volleyball tournament after it won via straight sets over 2007 title-holders China late Saturday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Japan won 27-25, 25-17,25-19 and avenged a five-set loss to the same team in the classification stage. Skipper Shiori Murata, named the tournament MVP, finished with 11 points, behind Fumika Moriya’s 15 and Saori Kaneko’s, who was adjudged Best Server, 12. The victory gave Japan a slot in the World Girls’ Under-18 Championship next year in Mexico. Thailand, which took third place after it beat Korea 25-9, 25-22, 25-20, joined Japan and Korea in the worlds. The Philippines, which lost to Australia 25-12, 25-18, 25-21, settled for eighth place. Chinese-Taipei, a 25-14, 25-20, 25-14 winner over Indonesia, placed fifth, Indonesia sixth and Australia seventh to complete the top eight. – GMANews.TV