Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Perlas climbed back up from two sets down to pull BaliPure down to its first defeat.
The Perlas Spikers, banking on a veteran crew which refused to give up, methodically cut down the league-leading Water Defenders, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-12, Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at FilOil Flying V Center.
Later in the evening, Pocari Sweat continued its winning ways after fashioning a 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 rout of the Power Smashers.
The Lady Warriors now lead the field with a 4-2 record.
“We were like diesel,” said Perlas stalwart Dzi Gervacio, who scored 16 points. “We had a talk among ourselves because we lacked jelling and teamwork. It took us very long to move cohesively.”
And once Perlas was up and moving, nothing seemed to stop them.
Sue Roces ignited a searing comeback by the Perlas Spikers late in the third set when she scored on a quicker and two aces in success, while Amy Ahomiro fired another point to help rally Perlas from 19-22 to eventually win the frame.
Then at 13-13 in the fourth, Nicole Tiamzon punched a hole in the BaliPure defense to spark yet another rally and erect a 21-13 lead, swinging the momentum to the Perlas Spikers.
BaliPure’s heavy-hitter Grethcel Soltones tried to steer her team to a final stand, making back-to-back hits for 12-9 deficit but Gervacio nipped the comeback in the bud with a kill of her own.
It was a morale-boosting win for Perlas, which snapped a two-game losing streak to breathe down BaliPure’s neck with a 3-2 record.
“We had our own frustrations and I think that was our problem coming from our previous games. We were think that once the ball is hit, it’s dead,” added Gervacio. “Now we have to have that mind-set not to allow the ball to touch the floor.”
The Water Defenders fell to 3-1.
Soltones, who unloaded 20 points, was front and center for BaliPure, leading an 11-2 scoring binge that gave the Water Defenders a 19-10 lead in the second set.