FILE – Klemen Čebulj from Slovenia. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Klemen Cebulj unleashed 21 points as Slovenia avoided late-game disaster against China with a 25-21, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23 victory in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League ( VNL) on Thursday night at Mall del Asia Arena in the city of Pasay.
Cebulj, who had a 20-point effort in their loss to Poland on Tuesday, delivered a solid single block in the fourth set to push Slovenia to match point before Jan Kozamernik drilled the game-winning ace to seal their victory in the crucial stretch of Manila. .
Ziga Stern also advanced with 17 points, while Kozamernik and Tine Urnaut each had 13 points for Slovenia, which improved to 7-3 to tie Brazil and Italy for third-fifth before the final round of the VNL in Poland. on July 19. at 24
After taking control of the first two sets, the Slovenians squandered a 24-22 match point lead in the third set as China fired four response points to extend the match.
Slovenia erased a 15-10 deficit in the fourth to frustrate China and claim their first Manila stage victory this year.
Jingyin Zhang led the Chinese with 16 points only to absorb their second straight loss in the Philippines after a five-setter against unbeaten Japan in Tuesday’s opener.
China fell to 2-8 in 14th place.
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