Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
POWERED by newly minted MVP Alyssa Valdez, PLDT blasted Philippine Army, 25-16, 25-22, 19-25, 25-16, Sunday to forge a winner-take-all in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference championship at the jampacked Filoil Flying V Arena.
Valdez spoiled the Lady Troopers’ bid to sweep the best-of-three title series by unleashing another splendid 26-point performance, while also drawing huge support from Jaja Santiago as the Ultra Fast Hitters forged a rubber match this Sunday at 12:45 p.m.
“I told the players that we should not put to waste everything that we’ve worked hard for,” PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb said after his Ultra Fast Hitters rebounded from a shock Game 1 loss that snapped their 10-game winning streak.
Valdez tallied 20 kills, four aces and two blocks for the Ultra Fast Hitters, who came out scorching right in the opening set by taking an early 16-6 advantage.
“We worked as a team and it went well,” said Valdez, who also won the Best Outside Spiker Award during the individual awards rite prior to the match.
Valdez said the Ultra Fast Hitters were determined to avoid a heartbreaking end to what started as a big season that had them completing a perfect 10-0 run before the Finals.
Santiago, whose quick attack sealed the match, also fired 20 points, including 13 spikes.
Earlier, Cagayan Valley took third place after a 25-14, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19 win over Meralco behind Aiza Maizo-Pontillas’ 21-point output.
The Lady Troopers—who fought back from a set down in Game 1 to win, 13-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-22—didn’t go down easily, stealing the third set, 25-19, behind Mary Jean Balse and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
But the Ultra Fast Hitters quickly responded with a solid fourth set where they took a 16-11 lead.
Charo Soriano added eight points, including key hits in the second frame to help the Ultra Fast Hitters close out strong after an 18-18 tie.
Suzanne Roces scored half of her six points off blocks, while conference Best Setter Rubie de Leon had 26 excellent sets for PLDT.
Balse tossed in 17 points and Gonzales, named Best Opposite Spiker, added 12 to lead Army.
Rachel Anne Daquis, who won Best Outside Spiker, was held to just four points. Other individual winners were Santiago and Cagayan’s Marivic Meneses as Best Middle Blockers and Meralco’s Jen Reyes as Best Libero.