Perlas halts BaliPure romp
Perlas fought back from a two-set deficit to stun erstwhile unbeaten BaliPure, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-12, in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Dzi Gervacio did most of the damage for the Spikers in the decider, unleashing seven points to help them take control early, 12-5, and shove the team to match point at 14-9.
BaliPure saved the match point thrice but Suzanne Roces countered with a kill to clinch it for a Perlas team that got back on the winning track and improved to 3-2.
Defending champion Pocari Sweat annexed its fourth straight win at the expense of Power Smashers, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16, to wrest solo second with 4-2.
The Lady Warriors outsteadied their rivals in the homestretch of the first two sets then raced to a 24-14 cushion in the third behind Myla Pablo and Jessey de Leon to set the stage for their fourth win.
Earlier, Air Force stopped Instituto Estetico Manila, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20, in the lone men’s match.
“This is a game that we recovered from a three-setter loss last time. We had a talk among ourselves because it proves that we really lack teamwork and jelling. Even in the succeeding sets, it took time for us to warm up and work cohesively. But it’s a good win because it showed our efforts came to fruition,” said Perlas skipper Dzi Gervacio.
Amy Ahomiro smashed 17 points, Gervacio netted 16, Roces and Nicole Tiamzon churned out 11 apiece while Sasa Devanadera chipped in 10 for Perlas.
Grethcel Soltones unloaded 20 points, Risa Sato fired 14 and Aiko Urdas added 13 for BaliPure which absorbed its first defeat after three straight victories.
“We are happy we won but we are far from satisfied because our opponent is shorthanded yet we followed their pace,” said Pocari Sweat head coach Rommel Abella.