The Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers relied heavily on cousins Ranran Abdilla and Fauzi Ismail to come away with a tight, five-set debut win over the PLDT Home Fibr Ultra Fast Hitters, 25-15, 22-25, 24-26, 25-16, 15-12, in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Tawi-Tawi natives Abdilla and Ismail carried Air Force’s offense. National team veteram Abdilla scored a game-high 28 points while Ismail, fresh from a UAAP championship campaign with National U, added 25 points.
The pair’s incendiary scoring was enough to off-set the Jet Spikers’ 41 errors, the culprit for their set losses. Head coach Rhovyl Verayo charges Air Force’s miscues to early-season rust.
“Maaga pa kasi ‘yung season. Nag-aadjist pa kami kasi may mga player na medyo bago pa o kakabalik pa lang sa lineup,” said Verayo. “Kundisyon naman kami, pero work-in-progress pa ‘yung chemistry.”
Other than errors, Air Force dominated every scoring category. They notched a 62-49 spikes gap, a 10-2 advantage in blocking and a 9-2 aces tally.
The Jet Spikers take on the Army Troopers on May 19.
Johnvic De Guzman led PLDT, who returned from a two-season hiatus, with 18 points. He was the only Ultra Fast Hitter in double-digits.
The Ultra Fast Hitters face IEM on May 16 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores
Air Force (3) – Abdilla 28, Ismail 25, Tolentino 10, Malabanan 7, Fuentes 6, Mojica 3, De Ocampo 1, Dimculangan 1, Mangaring (L), Canlas (L)
PLDT (2) РDe Guzman 18, Galang 9, Peca̱a 8, Sumagaysay 7, Franco 5, Alfafara 3, Villegas 3, Dela Vega 0, Orian 0, Vecina 0, Melgar (L)
