Spikers’ Turf: PLDT nabs first win in 3 games, puts down IEM

PLDT Ultra Spikers. Photo from Spikers’ Turf Facebook account.

PLDT Home Ultera went back to its winning ways with a 25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 25-18 drubbing of Instituto Estetico Manila in the elimination stages of Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference Saturday at San Juan Arena.

Berlin Paglinawan put the Ultra Fast Hitters in the winners’ column with a backrow kill for a 1-2 record.

PLDT head coach Odjie Mamon said his team’s main problem is the lack of consistency in training with most of his players still in school.

READ: Mamon in unfamiliar place amid PLDT cold start in Spikers’ Turf

“We really don’t have that many days where we are complete,” Mamon said. “I think we had six consecutive days of practice where we were complete.”

Peter Torres, Vince Mangulabnan, and Berlin Paglinawan are on semestral break at National University while Mark Alfafara managed to insert training with PLDT while having his classes at University of Santo Tomas.

“Mark got excuse to attend our training while UST still holds classes,” Mamon said.

Torres gave PLDT the 24-17 match point with a defensive stop before the Phoenix Volley Masters managed to score on the next rally.

Alfafara led PLDT with 13 points while Peter Torres and Henry Pecaña added 12.

JP Torres also finished in double digits for PLDT with 11.

Jeffrey Jimenez and Rudy Gatdula combined for 21 points to lead IEM.