BanKo tops Motolite, nears PVL bronze

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—BanKo Perlas’ big four brought out their big game, blasting Motolite, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18, Wednesday night to inch closer to a bronze medal in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at FilOil Flying V Center.

Moving well together and possessing that killer instinct, the Perlas Spikers relied on veterans Nicole Tiamzon, Dzi Gervacio, Sue Roces and Kath Bersola who banded together against a spent Motolite side.

“I think it’s our chemistry, we get along easily and our teamwork comes easily,” said Roces in Filipino. She scored 11 points including three straight late in the third that gave the Perlas Spikers a 21-17 spread.

Tiamzon hammered 13 points, while Gervacio and Bersola added 11 and 10, respectively for the Perlas Spikers who even lost spiker Ella de Jesus to injury early in the second frame.

“I just told the team to just help each other and it worked because every one was making their contribution,” added the 6-foot middle blocker Roces.

Her running attack in the second set sparked BanKo’s mid-set rally from 17-20 deficit to 23-20 lead.

“It was the turning point because we were trailing them and then we took the lead,” said Roces.

That also broke Motolite’s resolve as it which never got its groove back despite inspired performances from usual gunners Myla Pablo and Tots Carlos.

Pablo and Carlos each scored 14 points for the Motolite Spikers who were within striking distance, 14-16, in the third only to commit back-to-back attack errors.