The bid of Fil-Americans Diane Pascua and Heidi Ilustre to clinch an Olympic berth in Beijing hit another snag when they lost to their fancied Chinese foes in the main draw of the 2008 Osaka Open World Tour leg yesterday in Japan.

The country’s top bets, aching to get as many ranking points as they can, fought hard but their Chinese rivals were simply too much for them as they went on to score a 21-18, 21-15 victory.

Despite their defeat, the duo earned some respects from their rivals for pushing the Chinese duo to the limit.

Tian and Wang are among the fiercest competitors in the elite event, having won the 2007 World Championships title at the expense of reigning Olympic champions Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh of Australia.

For them to earn some points, Ilustre and Pascua must beat again Erika and Emilia Nystrom of Finland.

The Fil-Am tossers scored a 21-18, 21-18 the first time they clashed with Nystrom sisters during the 2007 World Women’s Beach Volleyball Championships in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Pascua and Ilustre are currently ranked No. 34 in the world but only the top 24 will be allowed to play in the Beijing Games.

The pair still will still compete in eight more events before the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) finalizes the entries for the Beijing Games.