Photo by Ben Maniclang, Shakey's V-League Facebook
MANILA—Maynilad’s initial victory in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 Open Conference couldn’t have been more thrilling.
Given up for dead after dropping the first two sets, the Water Dragons showed tremendous resolve in hacking out a marathon 21-25, 12-25, 25-16, 26-24, 30-28 triumph over Perpetual Help for their initial victory at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
With the Lady Altas also refusing to give an inch in a fifth set to remember, the Water Dragons needed 15 more points to wrap up the game in two hours and 13 minutes—the longest match so far this season.
The Water Dragons, bannered by former collegiate standouts who are actually employees of Maynilad, improved to 1-1, while the Lady Altas, despite the inclusion of two Thai imports to their squad, dropped to 0-2.
Former Lyceum star Joy Cases finally ended the resistance with a down the line kill to end a fifth set that lasted for 37 minutes. Cases finished with 20 points, matching teammate Nica Guliman’s output.
Mervic Mangui and Beverly Boto collected 11 points apiece for Maynilad, which tied Philippine Navy and San Sebastian for a share of third.
Honey Rose Tubino paced the Lady Altas with 22 points, while 18-year-old Thai import Wirawan Sattayanuchit added 18 hits.
The Water Dragons, who prevailed despite trailing 6-12 on blocks, forced a fifth set after Cases running spike broke a 24-all tie and Guliman scored on a block.
Fresh off its first win, Maynilad president Ricky Vargas said the Water Dragons are relishing the opportunity of playing against topnotch teams Armed Forces.
“We haven’t played against them but we have done our homework, so we are confident that we can go head-to-head with them,” said Vargas, referring to the military teams Navy, Army and Air Force. “It may be challenging but also interesting because it will be an honor for us to play against them.”
Maynilad also hopes its participation in the league will help encourage other companies to join the tournament in the future.
“We hope that it does encourage others to join because our participation has given our company numerous benefits in terms of health, winning, and caring for our water resources,” he said.
Vargas said Maynilad’s volleyball team will also hold clinics in communities of the company’s concession area.