Perlas-BanKo Spikers’ middle blocker Kathy Bersola took home the second Philips Gold-Premier Volleyball League Press Corps Player of the Week for games played from July 19 to 23.
Bersola started the week leading Perlas with 14 points, highlighted by five blocks, to take down her alma mater, the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in four sets last Wednesday.
The 21-year-old then followed it up with a career-high outing of 24 points in a five-set thriller against the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders that catapulted them to solo fourth place with a 3-3 (win-loss) record.
“Binigay lang talaga sa akin ng teammates ko ‘yung pagkakataon na maka-score,” shared Bersola.
“Siguro I took advantage na din sa mga ginagawa ng kalaban. We needed this win so everybody had to do their part. I just tried to do my best.”
The UP alumna stood out among the three candidates this week, namely Perlas-BanKo teammate Nicole Tiamzon, who was also instrumental in their two victories, and Creamline Cool Smasher Rose Marie Vargas.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker is fifth in the Best Blocker race with 13 kill blocks out of 91 attempts with a 0.50 average per set. She is also 16th in scoring with a total of 64 points built on 49 spikes 13 blocks and two aces.
Perlas, who had missed the chance to make it to the semis in the previous Reinforced Conference, have a tall mountain to climb to clinch at least a playoff for the last semifinals berth when they take on the unscathed leaders Creamline Cool Smashers in their last assignment on Sunday, July 30.
And Bersola vows to go all out in that game with the help of her teammates.
“We were talking and sinabi namin na we needed to perform better this conference,” she said.
“It’s a lot about pride as players for us na we just can’t let ourselves lose. Kailangan namin ipakita ‘yung palaban namin na attitude.”
