PSL Shine takes home Super Cup bronze

MANILA, Philippines—PSL Shine fought through, down two sets to none and two match points in the fifth set, to overcome PSL Sparkle, 15-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 17-15, and take bronze medal Friday night in the Philippine Superliga Super Cup.

Eli Soyud erased two match points to cap PSL Shine’s come-from-behind win, the selection team’s only victory in three matches in the special tournament to help prepare the Philippine team for the Southeast Asian Games.

The national team is locked in battle against guest team University of Tsukuba at press time at FIlOil Flying V Center.

Patty Orendain ignited a late charge by PSL Shine in the third to extend the match that everybody expected to finish early.

“Our coach (Karl Dimaculangan) told us to go for it because it’s such a waste if we let it slip away after coming back into the match,” said Orendain in Filipino.

The short, soft-spoken spiker from Generika-Ayala finished with 11 points for PSL Shine.

But it was MJ Phillips who delivered the goods for PSL Shine, unloading 16 points, including a smash that bounced off defender Alohi Robins-Hardy’s arms, ending the two-and-a-half-hour match.

“The key is communication although we only practiced as a team for less than two weeks,” said Orendain.

Ranya Musa, Cignal’s low-key hitter, scored 22 points for PSL Sparkle which wound up fourth in the tourney losing all three matches.

“That’s how it ended, we just enjoyed playing together and PSL Shine worked extra harder,” said Musa in Filipino.

Grethcel Soltones chipped in 19 points for Sparkle which didn’t appear bothered until PSL Shine was slowly getting back into the match.