Pocari Sweat sweeps UP to open V-League campaign

Pocari Sweat opens V-League stint with victory.

Pocari Sweat eased into its new league and immediately started to work by sweeping University of the Philippines, 25-18, 25-14, 25-22, in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference Saturday at San Juan Arena.

Formerly carrying the Philips Gold banner in the Philippine Super Liga, the Lady Warriors had a change of color scheme and joined the V-League.

Holding on to a slim one-point lead, 22-21, Roselle Baliton converted on back-to-back blocks to give Pocari Sweat a 24-21 lead before Nicole Tiamzon gave UP a small sigh of relief with a through-the-block kill to stave the lead 24-22.

Elaine Kasilag then found the spot on a broken play to end the match and open the Lady Warriors’ campaign in the V-League with a victory.

Assistant coach Rommel Abella said he had to remind his players who UP is when the younger Lady Maroons started to threaten their impending sweep.

“Nasabihan ko sila kanina, naging complacent kasi kami in the start of the third set and sabi ko di lang basta bastang kalaban ang UP,” said Abello, who had to take charge of the team while head coach Tai Bundit is away in Thailand. “Fresh from the UAAP ang UP and maganda pa pinakita sa UAAP so alam naming lalaban at lalaban talaga sila.”

Team captain Michelle Gumabao led Pocari Sweat with 13 points while Myla Pablo and Kasilag added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Nicole Tiamzon led UP with nine points while UAAP’s top rookie Isa Molde had eight.