Customs routs Coast Guard, gains 3rd slot
Customs leaned on a balanced attack as it routed winless Coast Guard, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18, yesterday to secure the third semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V- League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Alyssa Valdez led all hitters with 14 points, including 11 on spikes and two on blocks, as the Transformers clinched their fourth win against two losses to join the UST Tigresses (5-1) and the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors (4-1) in the next round of the seasonending conference sponsored by Shakey’s.
BaliPure later completed the Final Four cast as it held off Team Laoag, 25-21, 26-24, 25-13, in the other game.
The Power Smashers closed out their campaign at 2-5.
But it was a total team effort as the rest of the Transformers, except for liberos Jonalyn Ibisa and Fenela Emnas, scored at least a point to dominate the Lady Dolphins and bounce back from their surprise straight-set loss to the Lady Warriors last weekend.
“We just want to get everybody in the team involved,” said Customs coach Sherwin Meneses.
The Transformers, however, struggled with their reception early and trailed, 6- 8, then made the necessary adjustments to take the opening set.
It was all Customs show from there as the power-hitting Valdez, who is leading the MVP race, took charge.
Coast Guard actually scored three straight points to close in at 18-24 in the third set but the Transformers finished off the Lady Dolphins after a brief rally, dealing the Dolphins their sixth straight loss in the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.
“We’re really happy to win, this is a confidence-booster as we head to the semis,” said Customs skipper Valdez, the league’s leading scorer who slowed down with a 14-hit game. “We still have to learn from our mistakes, the little things inside the court which make the difference at the end of the game.”
The Lady Dolphins, who were led by former Far Eastern U standout Samantha Dawson’s 11 points, fell to their sixth straight defeat.
In the Spikers’ Turf Season TwoReinforced Conference, Air Force turned back Instituto Estetico Manila, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21, to notch its fourth straight win and secure a semis seat.