Valdez, Santiago praise Maraño in PH win over Vietnam

BEAST MODE. Aby Maraño attempts a spike against a Vietnamese blocker. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BIÑAN, Laguna—Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago were the ones who produced the numbers for the Philippines in its stunning upset of Vietnam, 27-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, in the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship, yet the two credited one unsung figure in the victory.

That person was the fiery Aby Maraño.

“There was doubt, the question on how we ended up in this predicament, and Tyang Aby just told us to claim this win, to believe in ourselves, that we can win,” said Valdez, who had 20 points, in Filipino Monday at Alonte Sports Arena.

The Philippines were scrambling when Vietnam, the 44th-ranked team in the world, suddenly put on a masterful counter attack in the third set.

And the Vietnamese almost pulled off another comeback in the fourth set when they trimmed the Philippines’ 24-20 lead to just 25-23.

Still, the 79th-ranked Philippines managed to hold on for the stunning victory.

“We told ourselves that this would be the biggest game we’ll play in,” said Santiago, who finished with 19 points. “We know that we’ll go through a really tough game but Tyang just told us to believe we can win.”

Maraño, though, not only provided the emotional support as she put up 11 points to help the Philippines.