Mae Tajima of Bali Pure. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
SUSTAINING its sharp form, BaliPure overpowered Team Laoag, 28-26, 25-23, 25-17, Wednesday for a fourth straight victory in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13-Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Fresh off a 26-hit performance against University of the Philippines, Alyssa Valdez found her groove anew, coming through with 20 hits, while Grethcel Soltones wound up with 11 points for the Water Defenders, who got an unlikely lift from Mae Tajima.
The statuesque Tajima provided the spark for BaliPure early on with four of her eight points coming in a nip-and-tuck opening set as the Water Defenders assured themselves of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth.
Dragged into another tight set in the second frame, the Water Defenders proved steadier with Valdez and Soltones combining for a strong finish.
BaliPure’s win, fashioned out in 75 minutes, was the Water Defenders’ fourth straight since dropping their first game to Air Force last May 30 when they missed Valdez.
BaliPure posted a 45-34 edge on attack points and also had 10 service aces and four blocks. But the Power Smashers stayed in the thick of the fight thanks to Jovielyn Prado who rammed in eight kills and Jessica Galanza and Mylene Paat who contributed six hits apiece.
It was Laoag’s third loss in five games.
In the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Open Conference, Instituto Estetico Manila outlasted Bounty Fresh, 20-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-22, 15-13, to nail a third straight triumph and clinch a semifinal berth.