POCARI Sweat star Michele Gumabao palm-dives a drop shot by Judy Ann Caballejo of Air Force as Gyselle Sy looks on in last night’s Shakey’s V-League title match at Philsports Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
THRIVING under pressure all conference long, Pocari Sweat finally flourished on top.
As their resiliency again came out in full display, the Lady Warriors turned back Philippine Air Force, 29-27, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19, on Monday night to complete a series comeback and capture the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference championship in front of a boisterous crowd at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“I told the players they’ve been tagged as comeback queens, so now they have to prove it,” Pocari coach Rommel Abella said of the Lady Warriors, who also rose from a 0-1 series deficit against Bali Pure in the semifinals.
“It’s really all about motivation,” Abella added after Pocari Sweat bagged the title right on its maiden run.
Myla Pablo—who spearheaded the Lady Warriors’ series comeback—rightfully emerged as the Finals Most Valuable Player after following up her 19-point Game 2 outing with a 23-point performance in the decider.
“I really saw a different fire in her,” Abella said of Pablo.
After taking a 2-1 set lead, the Lady Warriors toughened up midway in the fourth set behind Pablo, Elaine Kasilag and Michele Gumabao to pull away from an 11-all deadlock and seize a 21-16 advantage.
Gyselle Sy later sealed it with a match-clinching ace.
Kasilag finished with 15 points, while Gumabao added 12 for the Lady Warriors.
The thrilling, extended first set already typified the unpredictable series between the top two seeds. Just when the Jet Spikers looked ready to cruise through the opening frame, 16-7, the Lady Warriors fought back behind Pablo, who twice put them at set point.
The Jet Spikers responded behind Joy Cases to wrest advantage, 27-26, but back-to-back errors handed set point back to Pocari, 28-27.
A Kasilag down-the-line wrapped up the Lady Warriors’ first-set comeback, 29-27.
The Lady Warriors pulled off a comeback of their own in Game 2, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20, to forge a do-or-die match, after the Jet Spikers rallied to a 17-25, 25-20, 15-25, 26-24,15-11 victory in the opener.