MANILA, Philippines — Air Asia recovered in the fifth and final set to down Cignal Wednesday night and grab the lead with its second straight win in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference volleyball championship at Cuneta Astrodome.
After taking the first two sets, Air Asia relaxed before hitting its stride again to hack out a 25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25, 15-11 win.
Earlier, Petron relied on prized rookie Dindin Santiago to nose out PLDT in another five-set thriller, 25-27, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 15-10.
Santiago, the sensational 6-foot-2 collegiate superstar from National U, didn’t disappoint the fans in her grand debut as she unloaded 37 points, the most by anyone in the semi-pro league.
“We really looked up to her, all our plays are centered on her because nobody can block her,” said Petron coach George Pascua.
Santiago broke the previous high of 36 points of Petron’s Shinako Tanaka during the import-laced Grand Prix last year.
Despite a few practice sessions with the Blaze Spikers, Santiago blended well with her teammates, striking hardest in the fourth set after the Power Attackers had opened a 2-1 set lead through Sue Roces, Lou Ann Latigay and Rysabelle Devanadera.
Latigay, Roces and Angela Benting led a 7-2 rally to give PLDT a 23-22 lead in the fourth. But an error and a Carmina Aganon hit put Petron ahead, 24-23.
Roces tied it with a deep spike down the line but Santiago fired a winner and Maica Morada hit an ace to force the deciding set.