Rarely-used Gutierrez lifts Army
Games Wednesday
(The Arena, San Juan City)
3 p.m. – Creamline vs BaliPure 5 p.m. – PetroGazz vs BanKo-Perlas
Pacifictown Army dug in as the game wound down and turned back BanKo-Perlas, 25-22, 23-25, 27-29, 25-20, 15-7, yesterday to finish the first round on a high note in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.
Seldom-used Jem Gutierrez came off the bench in the fourth and scored all of her seven points in the crunch to lift the Lady Troopers to their third win in five games.
Army cruised to an 8-1 lead in the fifth courtesy of Gutierrez, Olena Lymareva-Flink and Jenelle Jordan, with Nene Bautista sealing the match on back-to-back aces.
Army coach Kungfu Reyes lauded Gutierrez’s efforts that saved the day.
“Siya (Gutierrez) yung gamechanger ngayon,” said Reyes of his University of Santo Tomas player.
Gutierrez said she had studied BanKo-Perlas’ defense and shared what she came up with to her teammates.
“Nakita ko na kailangan namin ng mga down-the-line attacks kaya yun ang mindset ko nung pumasok ako,” Gutierrez said. (We needed down-theline attacks so that’s what I did.)
Jordan erupted for 23 points built on 21 kills and two blocks for Army while Lymareva-Flink and Royse Tubino chipped in 19 and 16 points. Setter Alina Bicar also shone with 10 points apart from 26 excellent sets.
Lakia Bright finished with 20 points for BanKo Perlas while Nicole Tiamzon scored 17 points but their team suffered its third loss against two victories.
Meanwhile, Motolite snapped a four-game losing spell with a 25-16, 2521, 25-18 drubbing of BaliPure.
Banking on a second set turnaround that saw it rallying from a sixpoint deficit, Motolite would never be threatened in completing a sweep, with Channon Thompson leading the way in dealing the Water Defenders their fourth consecutive loss.
Marist Layug and Tots Carlos had eight points apiece, while import Krystle Esdelle added seven markers. Setter Fhen Emnas dished out nine excellent sets and 10 digs, while libero Thang Ponce had 10 digs and 10 excellent receptions.