The Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers out-hustled the National University Lady Bulldogs in another five-setter, 23-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8, in the 13th season of the Shakey’s V League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre, Wednesday evening.
The win was also highlighted by returning Bacolod-based spiker Dell Palomata who only came back to Manila last Monday. She scored a measly total of five points, but provided her solid presence in the middle for Air Force.
“Malaking malaking bagay [‘yung pagbalik ni Dell],” said Air Force Head Coach Jasper Jimenez.
The teams were neck and neck in the first set but Jaja Santiago’s consecutive quick hits created a two-point breathing space for NU, 23-21. A service error by Audrey Paran and an ace by Joy Cases, then, tied the set at 23-apiece, before a Risa Sato off-the-block attack and a May Ann Pantino mis-hit closed it for the Lady Bulldogs, 25-23.
The Jet Spikers, on the next set, went ahead early, 8-4, coming into the first technical timeout. They once again grabbed hold of the lead after a 14-14 dead lock, ending the second, 21-25, via timely hits from Cases and Judy Caballejo who scored totals of 14 and 16, respectively.
The Roger Gorayeb-led squad, however, dropped a 10-1 bomb on Air Force in the next set, headed by team captain Jaja Santiago who scored a total of 20 markers, 15 of which are from attacks. They ended the third set with a 12-point lead, 25-13.
“Ginamit ko ‘yung second stringers ko (nu’ng third set). Pinataas ko ‘yung morale. Lumaban naman kahit papaano eh,” said Jimenez.
A set away from the win, NU failed to close the game out and dropped an erratic fourth set 23-25.
Air Force was in complete control of the final set, creating an eight-point cushion, 10-2, highlighted by cross court hits by Caballejo and Cases. The separation proved to be enough for them to win the set, 15-8, and the match, three sets to two.
In their third five-setter of the conference, the Lady Bulldogs once again failed to show composure at crunch time.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, dapat alisin na nila ‘yung mga multo sa kanila ng nakaraan,” said NU head coach Roger Gorayeb on their third five-set loss. “We did not lose the game because sobrang lakas ng kalaban, we lost because we lacked the heart to win.”
The Jet Spikers (4-1) will next face Iriga (1-3) on Wednesday, while the Lady Bulldogs will go up against Baguio on Monday. Both games will be held at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Scores:
PAF (3) – Caballejo 16, Cases 14, Tapic 8, Pantino 6, Palomata 5, Manzano 4, Yongco 1, Semana 1, Papa 1, Abanto 0, Crisostomo (L), Balmaceda (L)
NU (2) – Santiago 20, Sato 12, Paran 12, Singh 11, Nabor 5, Doromal 2, Chavez (L), Valdez (L)
