PVL: Buoyed by team’s support, Erika Santos proves her worth for PLDT

PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrate a point. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT head coach George Pascua saw Erika Santos’ determination from the bench and fielded her in the crucial moments of their match against Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference semifinal round.

“What I do [during games] is I look at them at the bench and try to figure out what they’re thinking based on their expression if they are ready to fight,” said Pascua in Filipino after Santos’ heroics in their 15-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 victory over Cignal on Thursday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Power Hitters coach’s late-game gamble paid off as Santos scored all of her five points to help complete a comeback from a 14-19 deficit in the fourth set and delivered the match-winning kill for their second win in the final round of the midseason tournament.

The substitute wing spiker out of La Salle, who only played in the last two sets, was fueled by her teammates’ trust to put on the finishing touches.

“They gave me the confidence to play my game. My Ates were there to cover up for me so I was fully confident in attacking,” said Santos in Filipino.

Santos said her teammates’ “assurances” gave her every scoring opportunity to deliver when it mattered most.

“I have to give credit to my teammates for their trust in me in each attack, each point, and every scoring opportunity they gave me.

After emerging as PLDT’s unsung hero against Cignal, Erika Santos was a trending topic on Twitter.

The 5-foot-9 hitter, who decided to turn pro in time for the Invitationals, has proven she’s always ready whenever her number gets called with an impressive game for the Lady Spikers last UAAP Season 84.