RC Cola tossers bag 3rd
RC Cola-Air Force fended off a mighty fightback by Cignal to prevail, 26-24, 23-25, 25-20, 26-24, last night and secure third place in the 2014 Pilipinas Super Liga Grand Prix at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Judy Ann Caballejo found a hole in the stonewall defense of the HD Spikers for the clincher of the match that took over two hours to finish.
“We somehow got even after they beat us twice in the tournament,” said RC Cola head coach Rhovyl Verayo. “I have to commend my two foreign players for the effort and the locals for not allowing the match to go the distance.”
Article continues after this advertisementEmily Brown was on attack mode throughout and accounted for much of RC Cola’s forays while Bonita Wise protected the net with authority and scored the match point for good measure.
Brown, who finished with 24 points, was down with the flu when the Raiders lost to Generika in the semifinals.
Ahead by four early in the fourth set, RC Cola allowed the HD Spikers to mount a comeback with Sarah Julie Ammerman, Abigail Praca and Honey Rose Tubino driving in the crucial points.
Article continues after this advertisementTwo quick tip-ins by Praca shifted the momentum to Cignal, 13-11, before Brown and Iari Yongco again restored order for RC Cola by forcing the deadlock at 18.
Wise and Brown conspired to score the next five points for the Raiders, pushing the HD Spikers on the edge with an array of brilliant smashes.
Brown banged in a kill for match point, 24-19, but Cignal refused to conk out.
The HD Spikers cashed in on a pair of miscues with Stalzer hammering the Raiders twice and Ammerman tying the count for the final time off a block.
Wise sent Cignal scrambling to an empty spot and Caballejo finished off the HD Spikers with a wallop that proved too strong for Stalzer to stop.
Meanwhile, Irina Tarasova had 33 points and Angeline Gervacio added 13 as Foton repulsed Mane ‘N Tail, 25-23, 18-25, 17-25, 25-12, 15-12, to clinch fifth place.
Kristy Jaeckel was all over the floor with a conference-high 41 points but couldn’t get enough support from her teammates as Mane ‘N Tail came to grief.
