Pocari drags V-League finals vs Air Force into decider
Pocari Sweat celebrates win in Shakey’s V-League. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Pocari Sweat played the exact opposite of its performance in the Finals opener and the result turned out different in Game 2.
Unruffled even after dropping the first set, the Lady Warriors downed Philippine Air Force, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20, to stretch their Finals series to a deciding Game 3 in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference Saturday night at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Pocari Sweat found itself in the same situation as it was in Game 1 when it took a 22-18 lead in the fourth set. Only this time, the Lady Warriors provided answers when the Jet Spikers mounted their rally.
“I told them to just have one good receive para mawala yung momentum sa kanila,” Pocari coach Rommel Abella recalled his instructions during the team’s final huddle when Air Force made its run.
“Sabi ko rin sa kanila, composure is the key. Kung mananalo kami ngayon, composure talaga ipanglalaban namin,” added Abella, whose team lost big leads in the fourth set of Game 1 en route to a five-set heartbreak.
Myla Pablo delivered 19 points for Pocari Sweat, which put its Game 1 collapse behind with a steady performance in a do-or-die.
The Lady Warriors closed out the Jet Spikers with three straight points, highlighted by an emphatic hit from Michele Gumabao and a block by Desiree Dadang on May Pantino.
Pantino led Air Force with 17 while Joy Cases and Jocemer Tapic added 11 apiece.
Game 3 is on Monday night also at the same venue.
