Oragons, Kmezic nip Tigresses

Serbian Tamara Kmezic stepped up in the third set as Iriga City fought back from four points down to repulse Victoria Sports-University of Santo Tomas, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20, in the Chooks-to-Go Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last night.

Kmezic scored five points in the Oragons’ 9-2 closing flurry as they overhauled a 12-16 deficit and frustrated the Tigresses to notch their second straight win after dropping their first four matches for joint sixth with the idle Cignal HD Spikers.

Iriga nipped Sta. Lucia last Oct. 24 but lost its next four following the sacking of top spiker Grethcel Soltones.

“It took us a while to get another victory. I told them that it is important for us to win so as to avoid the first-ranked team in the quarterfinals,” said Iriga City coach Parley Tupaz.

“In the third set, Kmezic wasn’t defending and she was focusing on offense. But it’s okay since she delivers for us offensively. We missed Grethcel (Soltones) and what she could contribute to the team,” added Tupaz.

The Oragons actually trailed the Tigresses majority of the third with Carla Sandoval leading UST to a 12-7 lead.

But Iriga City pounced on UST’s miscues with Japanese Saam Miyagawa putting the former back within, 12-13. Back-to-back aces by Alina Bicar, however, gave UST another four-point cushion.

But the 6-foot-6 Kmezic came away with two hits to tie the count at 18 then hammered another spike to seize the lead, 19-18, on their way to victory.

A Sandoval hit saved the match point for the Tigresses, only to yield the set and the match with an error. UST fell to 0-6.