PSL: RC Cola deals Meralco third setback; Petron outlasts Foton

Lynda Morales showed why she rates as the league’s finest import.

The Puerto Rican national team stalwart fired 26 points and added plenty of intangibles as debuting RC Cola pipped Meralco, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13, Thursday night in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The shapely 6-foot-1 middle blocker scored 19 attacks and seven blocks while providing solid leadership for the Raiders who are making a comeback in the league.

In the other match, Petron outlasted Foton, 21-25,25-20,25-13,12-25,15-9 to post its second win in three games and hand the Tornadoes their 1st loss for 1-1 card.

Dindin Manabat had 28 points, Brazilian import Erica Adachi made 25 excellent sets and five points for Petron.

Morales, a seasoned club player in the Brazilian and Turkish leagues, scored the match point that sent Meralco’s Power Spikers crashing to a third straight defeat.

“We are still experiencing early jitters, we’re definitely not 100 percent yet,” said coach Rhovyl Verayo of his wards, who yielded 36 points on errors.

“Lynda is a very good player, but until we receive well, we can’t set her up [for spikes].”

Veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan did a superb job feeding not just Morales but also Sara McClinton, RC Cola’s other reinforcement who contributed 20 points.

Dimaculangan dished out 20 excellent sets—15 shy of Meralco’s Kim Fajardo’s 35 successful sets—but her combination with the two power hitters provided the big difference.

Meralco’s import drama persisted as Christina Alessi was pulled out from the game early and never returned, scoring just a point.

The left-handed opposite hitter apparently couldn’t fit into the rotation, although coach Ramil de Jesus said Alessi hurt her ankle.

Mika Reyes led the Meralco locals with 15 points in a stint that should boost her La Salle combination with Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo in the coming UAAP wars.