After bowing to the Creamline Cool Smashers last Wednesday, the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders bounced back for a 2-1 slate after sweeping the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23, Saturday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Grethcel Soltones paced the Water Defenders with 18 points, 16 coming from attacks, while Risa Sato and Aiko Urdas contributed 13 each. Ace setter Jasmin Nabor dished out 40 excellent sets.
But despite a straight-sets win, Coach Roger Gorayeb expressed concern over how his girls have been playing.
“Ito naman ngayon, nag-three sets pero parang nawawala yung aggressiveness ng mga bata. Kung ano laruin ng kalaban, ganun din lalaruin nila. Kung mabagal yung isa, mas mabagal din kami. Gusto ko agresibo palagi. Mapa-opensa, mapa-depensa. Kung di ka agresibo, madali kang ma-down,” Gorayeb said.
Gorayeb was talking about how Balipure allowed the younger Lady Maroons to inch closer every set most especially in the third set when the Maroons pulled a 5-1 run taking a lead at 23-22, which Jerrili Malabanan and Sato eventually took cared of. But still, the veteran coach is not satisfied.
“Yun na nga sinasabi ko. Nawawala na aggressiveness nila. Every three points nila, one point lang kami. Di kasi dapat ganun. Di ko alam. Di naman malaking problema pero tatanungin ko na lang sila bakit nagkakaganun,” the veteran tactician furthered.
Gorayeb hopes to bring back his unit’s killer instinct before their next match on July 16 against the Philippine Air Force.
“Yung Air Force kasi ‘di naman yung nag-aaral mga yun. Puwede yun mag-practice dalawang beses sa isang araw eh kami nagpa-practice kami ala-siyete na ng gabi kapag tapos na ang lahat,” Gorayeb furthered. “Pero gayunpaman, at the end of the day, yung hunger ng mga bata to win games ang magdadala sa amin sa panalo. Pero we have to do something about it, we cannot play like this.”
UP’s Isa Molde created 22 points, while Tots Carlos hit 18.
The Lady Maroons will also meet the Philippine Air Force next but at an earlier date, July 12. – BY: Danine Cruz
The Scores:
Bali Pure (3) – Soltones 18, Urdas 13, Sato 13, Malabanan 10, Mendiola 3, Nuval 2, Nabor 1, Oliveros 0, Singh 0, Pantone (L), Eroa (L).
UP (0) – Molde 22, Carlos 18, Bernardo 3, Ramos 3, Gannaban 3, Estranero 2, Cailing 2, Dorog 1, Basarte 1, Layug 0, Altomea (L), Alinas (L).
