Neophyte squad Bureau of Customs Transformers started their 13th Shakey’s VLeague Reinforced Conference campaign with flying colors as they sent down the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22, Monday evening at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
New acquisitions Alyssa Valdez and Rose Vargas led the Customs’ offense in tonight’s win. Valdez led all scorers with 18 points off 14 attacks, while Vargas had 17 markers off 15 hits. Lilet Mabbayad had 10, while Fenela Emnas dished 27 excellent sets.
The Lady Maroons had the upper hand early in the opening set, 11-7, but the Transformers, through Rose Vargas and Valdez, were able to come back and send the frame to a 19-all knot late. From there, Customs took control, outscoring their younger counterparts 6-4 to earn the set win, 25-23.
Now with their bearings in full motion, Customs sustained their rhythm to keep UP at bay all throughout the second set. The Transformers led by four, 16-12, midway into the canto, and from there, weathered their own unforced errors at the net to blow past UP and take a 2-0 set advantage, 25-18.
Despite a slow start in which they trailed early, the Transformers were able to complete a come-from-behind finish in the third set. Trailing by a point, 16-15, Customs clawed their way back with a 10-6 scoring spree sparked by Vargas off kills to own the set, 25-22, and earn a straight-set victory in their debut.
“Veterans naman yung naiwan sa’min, so kahit walang imports kaya,” said Customs head coach Sherwin Meneses regarding tonight’s win, in which he fielded an all-Filipino crew. Their Thai imports were in uniform, but did not see action due to technicalities with their papers.
Nicole Tiamzon led the Lady Maroons with 15 markers, 14 off attacks.
Customs (1-0) will aim to post their second win against Team Laoag this Wednesday, October 5, at 6PM. The Lady Maroons (0-1), on the other hand, will have Coast Guard as their next match-up on Saturday, October 8, at 4PM. Both matches will still be in Philsports Arena.
The Scores:
BOC (3) – Valdez 18, Vargas 17, Mabbayad 10, Soriano 8, Mandapat 3, Llagoso 1, Emnas 0, Marzan 0, Tubiera 0, Ibisa L.
UP (0) – Tiamzon 15, Buitre 5, Dorog 5, Layug 4, Bersola 4, Ramos 1, Molde 1, Cailing 1, Thai 1, Estranero L, Gaiser L.
