Staring at a two-set deficit, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights dug deep, outlasting the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Lady Altas in five sets, 16-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-18, 17-15, to cop their first win in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference, Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
“Lumaban sila sa Perpetual kahit down by two sets kami. They showed their character. Yun na yun,” Letran head coach Michael Inoferio said.
Holding a 2-0 set edge, the Lady Altas seized command in the third frame. They flipped a 7-12 deficit with a blistering 9-0 surge for a four-point advantage in the second technical timeout.
However, the Lady Knights mustered a fightback.
While Perpetual sprinted to a commanding 24-20 cushion, Chamberlaigne Cuñada hammered down a momentum-swinging hit. It incited a 6-0 set-clinching run, pushing the match to a fourth set.
From there, the Lady Knights rode their momentum and mounted a 23-16 lead to force a decider.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the final chapter. Tied at 13, Edma Musngi netted an ace to break the knot, but Bianca Tripoli forced a two-to-win situation with another deadlock at 15-all.
The Lady Knights then found the finishing kick through their defense. They denied Jhona Rosal for the match point, before Musngi converted a reception.
“Magandang experience ang nakukuha nila. Sila mismo ang nagde-develop ng self esteem nila. Sa amin, dagdag na lang as a head coach, as a tatay, ipu-push ko lang sila. Pero the way they play, sila na mismo ang gumawa ng character,” Inoferio added.
Cuñada finished with a game-high 18 points built on 16 attacks and two kill blocks for the Lady Knights.
Kath Dela Cruz supplied 14 markers to go along with 24 excellent digs. Charm Simborio chipped 12 points spiked by a pair of rejections, while Kristine Miranda chimed in 10 markers.
Musngi paced Letran with 14 excellent sets on top of four aces for five points. Julia Angeles protected the floor with 30 excellent digs and 20 excellent receptions.
The Lady Knights rose to a 1-2 slate, tying the Lady Altas, who possess an identical card.
Rosal topped Perpetual with 15 markers, with two from the service line. She laced it with 24 excellent digs and 18 excellent receptions that all went down the drain.
Tripoli contributed 14 points, while Dana Persa managed 13 markers in a losing cause. Alyssa Sangalang manned the floor with 25 excellent digs and 20 excellent receptions.
Letran look to build on this win when they face San Sebastian. Meanwhile, Perpetual will take on San Beda. Both matches will be played on Saturday, September 7, at the same venue.
