Pocari takes title duel to limit
Pocari Sweat. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO
POCARI Sweat had boasted how it thrives on comebacks.
And the Lady Warriors again showed exactly that, hacking out a 17-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20 triumph over Philippine Air Force to forge a do-or-die championship match in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference last night at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“That’s really how we are as a team,” said Pocari coach Rommel Abella. “Sabi nga nila, ang bida nagpapabugbog muna (As they say, the hero gets beaten up first).”
Myla Pablo led the Lady Warriors in spoiling the Jet Spikers’ title sweep, firing 19 points built on 17 attacks and a couple of blocks.
Elaine Kasilag also hit 11 points to help the Lady Warriors recover from a set down in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
“We really feel that we can do it,” said Pablo as the Lady Warriors try to replicate their semifinal run where they rose from a 0-1 series deficit against the fancied Bali Pure.
Game 3 is set at 6 p.m. on Monday, also at Philsports Arena.
After a dominant third frame, the Lady Warriors quelled the Jet Spikers’ rally with Michelle Gumabao putting them at match point on a combination play and Siemens Dadang wrapping it up with a block on May Ann Pantino.
Bali Pure 3rd
Earlier, Gretchel Soltones fired 18 points as Bali Pure downed Team Laoag, 25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19, to cop third place.
Soltones, the 20-year-old business management senior at San Sebastian, also formally received the Most Valuable Player award.
“I feel blessed to get the MVP award, but all I wanted was to help the team,” said Soltones.
“I’m very proud of Gretchel,” said Bali Pure coach Charo Soriano.
“She showed that she’s not the young Gretchel Soltones that we know, but a very mature veteran already in the game of volleyball. She showed leadership, strength and prowess as an outside hitter.”
Other awardees
Other awardees were Bali Pure’s Alyssa Valdez (1st Best Outside Spiker), Pocari’s Michelle Gumabao (Best Opposite Spiker), Myla Pablo (2nd Best Outside Spiker) and Melissa Gohing (Best Libero), Air Force’s Wendy Ann Semana (Best Setter), National University’s Jaja Santiago (1st Best Middle Blocker) and University of the Philippines’ Kathy Bersola (2nd Best Middle Blocker).
