BanKo Perlas trips BaliPure; strong comeback by Motolite

BanKo Perlas made up for a lethargic third set to repel BaliPure, 25-16, 25-12, 16-25, 25-20 victory and get back on the winning track in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Nicole Tiamzon banged in 22 points, most of them in the fourth frame when the Perlas Spikers stepped on it after allowing the Water Defenders to get back on their feet.

BanKo Perlas stormed to 23-16 in the fourth and faced a strong BaliPure comeback before Sue Roces slammed one home and Dzi Gervacio iced the count that sealed the team’s sixth win in nine matches. BaliPure fell to 2-7.

Earlier, Motolite took a little time finding its groove before beating Choco Mucho, 25-27, 15-25, 25-18, 25-17, 18-16, for its sixth victory in eight games.

It was the second fifth-set win by the Motolite spikers, who relied on the 23 points each of Tots Carlos and Isa Molde.

Setter Iris Tolenada tossed 46 excellent sets to provide ballast for Motolite in the match that lasted two hours and 35 minutes.

Tolenada said that in opening two frames they were not playing “Motolite volleyball,” but things turned for the better once “we remembered to be ourselves.”

Motolite triumphed despite missing injury-prone star Myla Pablo, who has missed two straight games due to sprain.

Motolite was staring at a
10-13 deficit in the fifth set before Choco Mucho committed two straight errors that triggered a four-point binge for Motolite.

The Flying Titans, who were led by Kat Tolentino’s 33-point output, erased two more match points before Bern Flora fired a crosscourt kill to seal the win for Motolite.

Shannen Palec scored 11 points for Choco Mucho.