Roll out the red carpet as the debutant has arrived.
Debutant Technological Institute of the Philippines completed a stunning come-from-behind victory over De La Salle-Dasmariñas 20-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-8 in its first ever game in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference Sunday at San Juan Arena.
Rochelle Fidel gave the match point for the Lady Engineers, 14-8, scoring off the Lady Patriots’ block.
Unfortunately, it was a Lady Patriot who sealed the pulsating Lady Engineers comeback when Cherry Nunag’s shot went out that gave TIP its opening game in Group B of the tournament.
Lady Engineers head coach Boy Paril said his team had to adjust to the magnitude of the offseason tournament after TIP struggled and lost in the first two sets.
“Everything was new, we don’t play in an environment like this where it’s cold, has very good lighting, and has a television coverage,” Paril said. “I waited for them to recover for the next three sets.”
TIP’s first two sets saw the Lady Engineers got their behinds handed to them as they never found the composure as the three-time V-League entrants Lady Patriots played like wily veterans.
“The players were nervous, very nervous, even their lips were pale,” Paril said whose team plays in the University and Colleges Athletic Association.
Christine Maderazo went nuts at the end of the third set scoring the Lady Engineers’ final three points from a 22-23 hole to a 25-22 set that started TIP’s furious comeback.
Dela Cruz led TIP with 17 points while former UP Lady Fighting Maroon Alyssa Layug added 12.
Nunag led the Lady Patriots with 14 points while guest player Desiree Dadang added 11 in their opener. CFC