After a long run of defeats and hearbreaks, the Bali Pure Water Defenders finally put an end to their drought in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3, Wednesday evening.
Grazielle Bombita and the Water Defenders vented their frustrations on the Philippine Air Force, escaping the Lady Jet Spikers in five grueling sets, 26-24, 16-25, 25-19, 17-25, 17-15, in the 2019 PVL Open Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
“Sobra. Sobrang parang yung weight parang na lift sa shoulders ko. And I’m pretty sure the players, sobrang saya nila kasi first win and hopefully masundan pa,” said Bali Pure head coach Rommel Abella after a 12-straight losing skid. “Yung momentum dito, sana madala sa next game.”
Tied at 15 in the fifth set that went the extra mile, Bombita pierced through the Lady Jet Spikers’ defense to buoy Bali Pure ahead by a solitary point.
Then in an attempt to save a match point, Del Palomata tried to use her lanky arms to wipe the ball away from the defenders’ reach. Unfortunately, she misplaced it.
Bombita battled through leg cramps and finished with a game-high 23 points, all but one coming from attacks. She also had 15 excellent digs.
Menchie Tubiera supplied 17 markers – off 14 attacks and three blocks – to go along with 20 excellent digs. Satrriani Espiritu added 13 points.
Vira Guillema tosses 24 excellent sets for the Water Defenders, who improved to a 1-2 card
On the other hand, the Lady Jet Spikers dropped all of their three matches.
Palomata and Mae Cabalsa led a balanced Air Force attack with 13 markers each. The former also had 11 attacks and two blocks.
Angel Antipuesto chipped 12 markers, which included four aces and a pair of blocks. Abegail Nuval managed nine points.
Both squads next face the Motolite Power Builders at the FilOil Arena. Bali Pure face them first on Sunday, before Air Force take them on a week from now.
