The Shopinas.com Lady Clickers mustered a crucial come from behind win against the Foton Tornadoes in a five-set thriller, 14-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 15-10, last Thursday night at the Cuneta Astrodome to officially mark their entry. [READ: Shopinas sends Foton to fight for their lives in Lucena]
Down 1-2, Shopinas leaned on its depth; fielding in a total of 13 players in the game, as five players scored five points and above. Also, a chunk of those critical points came from the Lady Clickers’ middle blocker Kim Kianna Dy.
In that game, Dy was the second-best scorer on her team, chalking up 15 points and a game-high four blocks. In addition, Dy also spearheaded a crucial run in the fourth set to erase 19-18 deficit. During that sequence, the former De La Salle Zobel standout ignited a 7-0 run behind a series of quick attacks and a couple of blocks to force a fifth set.
“Siguro naisip ko na nandoon na eh. We’re near the 25th mark so sayang naman ‘yung hinabol namin kung mag let go,” Dy said on her timely points during the fourth set. “Parang ako naisip ko na kunin na natin ito kasi naisip ko rin ang pahinga kasi if we lose tonight may game [kami] sa Lucena.”
Likewise, Shopinas head coach Ramil De Jesus also shared that team captain Michelle Laborte wasn’t a hundred percent in the game. With that scenario, De Jesus urged Dy to be more assertive and carry the team. From the looks of it, it paid off.
“Ang motivation ko sa kanya [Dy] is walang tayong leader, buhatin mo ang team. So ayon, nagrespond naman,” De Jesus added. “Sobrang off ni Cha [Cruz] tapos in pain kasi is Micmic [Laborte], in pain kasi tuhod niya.”
Shopinas will now have a few days off as they wait for the winner of the Foton versus Mane ‘n Tail to determine their opponent in the upcoming semifinals. The said game will be played today, 4:30 pm, at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, Quezon Province.
