Local involvement key to two PVL semifinal deciders

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Paymaya coach Roger Gorayeb also knows what three other coaches in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference semifinals are planning on doing: Get the locals involved.

The veteran mentor said the key to success in their Game 3 match-up with BanKo Perlas would be the support their homegrown talents would give their reliable imports.

“I told the locals to do their job and not just rely on the imports,” said Gorayeb, “I told Grethcel and the others that if she can’t attack and receive, the others will take care of offense.”

Soltones responded in a big way, dumping 22 points, including four in the fifth set, to power the High Flyers over the Perlas Spikers in Game 2 and extend the best-of-three series to the distance.

Perlas coach Dong dela Cruz also lamented the lack of output from his locals as Kia Bright and Jutarat Montripila took the scoring chores, combining for 58 points.

The same thing holds in the other semis duel between Creamline and Pocari Sweat-Air Force.

Winners in the two Game 3s Friday will vie for the championship which will also be a best-of-three affair.

In forcing Game 3, the Cool Smashers needed a combined 33 points from their superstars Alyssa Valdez and Michelle Gumabao, lifting some of the burden from Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt.

“Everybody wanted to win, and worked hard to achieve it,” said Valdez. “We actually talked about our Game 1 loss and we made the adjustments. We showed that in Game 2 and we hope to sustain it in the do-or-die.”

The Lady Warriors, on the other hand, were led by star Myla Pablo.