Bombita, Alvarez shine as Iriga whips Baguio

GRAZIELLE Bombita and Shola Alvarez translated their solid games to a win this time as Team Iriga repulsed Team Baguio, 25-22, 25-17, 26-24, for a 1-1 slate in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Bombita and Alvarez powered their team anew with a combined 26 points, but the Lady Oragons also highlighted their straight-sets victory with an impressive third-frame comeback.

“The formula of our team is teamwork and communication inside the court,” said Bombita.

Down 15-20 in the third set, the Lady Oragons unleashed five straight points to tie the match at 20 before surviving four more deadlocks in a thrilling end-game.

“When [Baguio] pulled away, I had my first six back inside again,” said Iriga coach Elvis Pabilona.

The veterans delivered with Bombita—who topscored with 16 in their loss to Laoag—pumping in 13 of her 15 points off attacks.

Alvarez, a Jose Rizal University recruit, also fired seven kills and tallied four of the Lady Oragons’ nine aces.

In Spikers’ Turf, Philippine Air Force downed Sta. Elena in straight sets, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21, to join idle leaders Cignal and Instituto Estetico Manila at 1-0.

Before their third-set rally, the Lady Oragons similarly came back from an early 7-10 deficit by drilling nine of the next 10 points.