CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—In a match between struggling teams, BaliPure proved better off than Chef’s Classics Saturday night.
The Water Defenders scored only its second win by scrambling a 25-22, 20-25, 27-25, 25-22 triumph over the newcomers Red Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Center.
And it wasn’t that easy for BaliPure as they went through a gauntlet of unforced errors and spikes of Chef’s Classics top gunner Nieza Viray all evening.
Viray and Justine Tiu sparked an 8-3 rally to take a 17-15 lead in the fourth as the Red Spikers attempted to extend the match into full distance.
Menchie Tubiera scored back-to-back points to stop the enemy forces, while Grazielle Bombita knocked in clutch points as the Water Defenders sealed the victory.
“We tried our best to hang on and follow the instructions of coach (Rommel Abella), because we needed this win,” said setter Vira Guillema in Filipino. She accounted for 21 excellent sets.
Indeed, BaliPure’s wins come few and far between. When it beat Air Force last week, it was its first 12 matches starting from the last conference.
“We need to lift our game more,” said Guillema. “We need to work harder and tell ourselves that we can do it.”
BaliPure improved its standings to 2-3, while Chef’s Classics remained winless in five matches.