INQUIRER.net PHOTOS/TRISTAN TAMAYO
THE smallest player on the court made the biggest impact to close the deal.
Gyzelle Sy made her imprint in the end game, scoring the final two points to help Pocari Sweat clinch the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference title with a 29-27, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19 victory over Philippine Air Force in Game 3 of the Finals Monday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Sy tipped the ball to an erratic Jet Spikers defense to put the Lady Warriors on the hill, then followed it up with a huge service ace to drop the confetti and ignite the celebration.
“Sobrang saya lang namin kasi as a group, first time namin nag-champion,” said coach Rommel Abella. “Sobrang saya ng feeling, para kaming nasa cloud.”
Sy engineered Pocari Sweat to the title with seven points, coming from four service aces, alongside 51 excellent sets.
Finals MVP Myla Pablo carried the Lady Warriors, unleashing 21 of her 23 markers off kills.
Elaine Kasilag added 15 points, while Michele Gumabao got 12 in the decider.
INQUIRER.net PHOTOS/TRISTAN TAMAYO
But the championship for Pocari Sweat didn’t come without a scare.
It had to battle back from nine-points down, 16-7, in the first set to eke out a 29-27 opener win. It couldn’t replicate the feat in the second set, though, as it fought back from a 22-10 deficit but fell short, 25-18.
“Sabi lang namin sa players nung first set, keep on fighting. Kahit gaano kalaki ang lamang, di kami pwedeng sumuko. Let’s prove na kaya nating humabol. Tutal, nabansagan na naman kayo as ‘Comeback Queens,’ patunayan na nating kaya nating manalo,” said Abella. “Good thing is nagtuloy-tuloy na naman yung momentum.”
The Lady Warriors could no longer be denied in the third set as Myla Pablo helped her team score a 2-1 lead with a 25-21 set win.
It was a sweet victory for Pocari Sweat, which fell in Game 1 before sweeping the next two matches.
Joy Cases fought for the Jet Spikers in the losing effort with 20 points, 19 coming from spikes, while Jocemer Tapic and May Ann Pantino both finished with 13 markers.
RELATED VIDEOS
