The BanKo Perlas Spikers continued their undefeated form, handling the Tacloban Fighting Warays in four sets, 25-21, 23-25, 29-27, 25-18, in the PVL Open Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
After dropping a tight second set, the Perlas Spikers looked in jeopardy in the third frame, trailing 2-8. BanKo slowly regained momentum through reinforced reception, eventually pulling clutch plays from their defense to force a deuce. Late errors from Tacloban eventually opened the door for BanKo to stow away with a 2-1 lead.
BanKo then faced a deflated Tacloban side in the fourth set, surging to a 22-15 advantage and never looking back.
Open hitter Dzi Gervacio finished with 23 points, while Nicole Tiamzon added 20. Team captain Sue Roces played her first match of the conference after suffering a right hand injury, tallying seven markers.
“Nadaan na lang siguro ng players ko sa experience namin kasi maganda na ‘yung pinakita namin nung mga crucial. Hindi talaga bumitaw,” said BanKo head coach Dong Dela Cruz.
“For us, maganda ‘yung win streak na ‘to kasi pinaghirapan talaga namin every game. Sana lang magtuloy-tuloy,” the former NU Lady Bulldog head coach added.
FEU standout Heather Guino-O fired in 21 points for Tacloban, who slumped to their third straight loss.
BanKo (5-0) stakes their unbeaten record against the short-handed Creamline Cool Smashers (3-1) on October 17 at the same venue. The Fighting Warays (2-3) face the young Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles (2-1), also on October 17.
The Scores
BanKo (3) – Gervacio 23, Tiamzon 20, Dacoron 11, Roces 7, Ahomiro 5, Villanueva 4, Bersola 3, Ferrer 2, Doromal 1, Emnas 0, De Jesus (L), Tan (L)
Tacloban (1) – Guino-O 21, Prado 10, Alvarez 7, Esguerra 7, Rodriguez 7, Abil 3, Negrito 3, Tubiera 3, Luzon 0, Galang (L), Ibisa (L)
