It took her a set, but once Pocari Sweat import Krystal Rivers got going, she electrified
Rivers tallied the loudest 20-point performance of this conference and led the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors to a pivotal triumph over the Bali Pure Water Defenders in Game One of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Finals, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24, at the PhilSports Arena.
The Alabama-product Rivers replaced Bosnian Edina Selimovic in the lineup in the quarterfinals, but only made her debut today due to difficulty with her International Transfer Certificate.
She showed that the wait was worth it, as her mere presence forced the Water Defenders to play differently. After an erroneous first set in which she scored just one point, Rivers powered in six points in the second set to tie the match at a set apiece.
Pocari Sweat setter Gyzelle Sy then used Rivers impeccably in the following sets, always threatening to go to her high-scoring import. The Lady Warriors burst to an 18-12 cushion in the third set and never looked back.
Holding a 15-8 advantage in the fourth set, the Lady Warriors slipped and allowed the Water Defenders to get close and eventually take the lead, 24-22, thanks to solid serving from Grethcel Soltones. Luckily, Sy had a few more aces up her sleeve, serving splendidly to lace the game-ending 4-0 Pocari Sweat run.
“We need to work on a few things. We really need to pay attention to what we can do better and not just reacting to how the other team plays,” said Pocari Sweat head coach Rommel Abella.
Former Finals MVP Myla Pablo added 16 points while American open hitter Michelle Strizak tallied 18 points.
Three-time NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones managed 17 points to tow Bali Pure. This is the first loss Bali Pure have absorbed that is not in five sets.
The Lady Warriors can clinch their third straight title with a win in Game Two on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena.
The Scores
Pocari Sweat (3) – Rivers 20, Strizak 18, Pablo 16, Panaga 12, Dadang 5, De Leon 2, Nepomuceno 2, Gohing (L)
Bali Pure (1) – Soltones 17, Bualee 16, Keddy 8, Malabanan 7, Sato 7, Nabor 6, Urdas 1, Mendiola 0, Pantone (L)
