After notching a record-setting 41 points, there is no doubt that Sara Klisura of Foton deserves the Chooks-to-Go/Philippine Superliga Press Corps Player of the Week award.
In the Foton Tornadoes’ five-set conquest of the erstwhile-unbeaten F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, 17-25, 32-30, 25-9, 21-25, 16-14, before a massive crowd at the Batangas City Sports Center late on Saturday, the Serbian sensation was simply on a different level.
She was unstoppable in the second set, before completely asserting her dominance in the third with her vast array of attacks that left the Cargo Movers groping for defensive form.
In the crucial stretch of the decider, Klisura broke the 14-all deadlock with a powerful attack from the backrow, before converting off a gift from Kim Fajardo for the final count, 16-14.
Klisura finished the night with 36 attacks, four aces, and a block for 41 points, prompting the group of sportswriters from various broadsheets, tabloids and online portals that covers the league, to name her as its unanimous choice for the weekly honor.
Her production was the highest in league history, as it eclipsed the 40 points of Kristy Jaeckel, 38 points by Bojana Todorovic and Stephanie Niemer, and 37 points by Dindin Manabat.
“Right now, I’m very excited because we won,” said Klisura, a personal choice of Serbian coach Moro Branislav.
“It’s my personal record. I never made 41 points before. The highest I got was around 30 or 31, but I don’t usually count.”
Branislav, who has seen his share of great reinforcements, said Klisura is one of the best imports to ever play in the country.
Aside from her attacking prowess, her defensive intensity and leadership obviously set her apart from other guest players who have seen action in the league.
“We agreed that Sara is one of the best foreign players who ever played here in the Philippines,” he said.
“She was one of my players when we competed in the youngest professional league in Europe. She has been playing in the professional ranks she was 18 so she already knows how to compete at a higher level.”
Klisura stressed that while the record is flattering, her main focus is to give the Tornadoes their third straight Grand Prix title.
“I hope every game will be like this,” she said, “But the most important thing is that my team wins the title and nothing else.”
The Tornadoes will wrap up their eliminations assignment against the lowly Victoria Sports-UST, before marching into the knockout quarterfinals starting December 5. Should they emerge victorious, they will advance to the semifinals for a chance to compete in the best-of-three finals battle.
