By: Ohmer Bautista
Following a four-set defeat at the hands of Creamline, the BanKo Perlas Spikers got back on track in thrilling fashion after escaping Motolite in straight-sets, 26-24, 32-30, 26-24, in the PVL Reinforced Conference Season 3, Wednesday evening, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
With the win, the Perlas Spikers evened their win-loss card with 2-2. Moreover, despite having recruited a new import in Krystle Esdelle, Motolite remained winless after three games.
Holding an early advantage from an opening set win, BanKo had to fight tooth and nail in the second frame to inch closer to a win. Knotted 25-all in a two-to-win situation, Esdelle and Yasemin Yildrim exchanged points to keep the game tied, 27-all.
Momentum-swinging blows were traded in the ensuing sequences as the game remained in a deadlock, 30-all. With neither team giving ground, Kia Bright took matters into her own hands, delivering back-to-back hits for a 2-0 set lead.
The close-quarter battle kept on in the third set, but Motolite threatened to extend the game into a fourth set after jumping to 23-22 cushion. Bright hammered the equalizer before an Esdelle net touch gave Banko the lead, 24-23.
Isa Molde, who poured in 16 points in the game, tied things up, 24-all. Bright then drew back-to-back kills anew to complete the sweep.
“I’m just glad we got the win… I think even though the other team challenged us a lot. In the end, we just never let go of holding that rope. I think that’ growth for us and I’m proud of that for us to just hang in there during those tough times,” Bright, the American reinforcement, said.
Bright finished with a volleyball triple-double performance of 19 points, 15 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs.
Turkish import Yildrim and Kathy Bersola added 11 markers each. Yildrim also had a game-high five blocks, while Bersola notched the only aces of BanKo with two.
Behind Molde, debuting Esdelle contributed 12 points spiked by two aces for Motolite. Fellow import Channon Thompson supplied 10.
Motolite will try to score their first win and quell the reigning champions Creamline Cool Smashers, who are riding a two-game win surge, on Saturday at the same venue, while the Perlas Spikers take on the PacificTown-Army a day after, also at the same venue.
