American beauty queen Alaina Bergsma was no doubt the anchor of Petron’s coup in the 2014 Pilipinas Super Liga Grand Prix.
Statuesque and gifted with a pterodactyl wingspan, Bergsma proved unshakeable in Petron’s 25-21, 21-25, 25-15, 25-9 conquest of the Generika Life Savers late Sunday for the women’s title of the premier volleyball league.
“I just did what I had to do: Push the offense of our team and help get the job done in defense,” said the 6-foot-3 Bergsma, a former Player of the Year awardee of the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
She practically did more than that.
In fact, the tournament’s best import and MVP delivered the crucial blows to the Life Savers by scoring 24 points and setting up the defensive blanket on Russian import Natalia Korobkova along with the spindly duo of Dindin Santiago and Carmina Aganon.
“We made sure not to match up Korobkova with Alaina and attacked their smallest player on the floor,” said Petron coach George Pascua.
After the Blaze Spikers zoomed to a commanding 17-5 lead on a variety of blocks and attacks, they never looked back.
The 24-year-old Bergsma, a former Miss Oregon who played for the USA Volleyball A2 National Team, was set up for the match point and Fille Saint Cayetano drove in the clincher, triggering a rain of confetti and loud cheers from the stands.
Other awardees: Lindsay Stalzer (Cignal), first best outside spiker; Emily Brown (RC Cola), second best outside spiker; Aby Maraño (Air Force), second best middle blocker; Dindin Santiago (Petron), second best middle blocker; Natalia Korobkova (Generika), best opposite spiker; Erica Adachi (Petron), best setter; Jen Reyes (Petron), best libero.