PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters win the Spikers’ Turf Championship.
Parading a bevy of former and current collegiate stars, the PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters needed to display more than firepower to dismantle the Cagayan Rising Suns, 25-15, 25-11, 23-25, 30-28, and win the inaugural Spikers’ Turf championship at San Juan Arena on Tuesday.
Finals MVP Mark Gil Alfafara carried the cudgels for the Ultra Fast Hitters in the first three sets, but it was NCAA MVP Howard Mojica who kept PLDT’s head above water amdi the fightback by Cagayan.
After starring in PLDT’s four-set conquest of Cagayan in Game 1 of the Finals, Alfafara posted game-high 23 points on 16 spikes, six blocks and an ace. Mojica, on the other hand, delivered 19 points.
“‘Yan ang maganda sa kanila, umpisa pa lang, alam na nila ang roles nila at handa silang magdeliver,” champion coach Odjie Mamon said of his superstar-laden team.
(That’s what’s great about them. They know their roles from the beginning and they’re ready to deliver.)
The Rising Suns looked like they were poised to set into oblivion when reserve Michael Zamora entered the game to give weary teammates Marck Espejo and Jan Berlin Paglinawan ample support. He won the 3rd set for Cagayan with a block on John Vic De Guzman.
Mamon said that his team planned to peak during the semifinals and the championship after suffering two setbacks in the preliminaries, one of which came from Cagayan.
The Ultra Fast Hitters’ net defense ultimately spelled the victory for the team as they registered a 19-10 advantage in blocking, which was made obvious in the last play when the PLDT defenders snuffed an attempt of Paglinawan, and ultimately their chance of extending the game.
Season MVP Espejo paced the Rising Suns with 14 points, while Paglinawan and Rex Intal had 10 markers apiece. CC