The Fourbees-Perpetual Lady Altas posted their second victory in five outings after dominating the Baguio Summer Spikers in straight sets fashion, 25-20, 25-20, and 27-25, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference, this afternoon at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Both teams had a rough start in the opening set when a succession of deadlocks took place. But from a 10-all knot, the Lady Altas pulled away to score a 16-12 lead midway into the set. Another 4-2 rally sent Fourbees five points closer to winning the first set, 20-16.
Baguio did all they can to equalize and sneak from behind, but their attack errors late in the set closed it out in favor of the Lady Altas, 25-20.
Fourbees-Perpetual seemed to have shaken the rust off their bodies as they took a quick 9-3 commanding lead early in the second set. However, the Summer Spikers, late in the second set, pulled through an 8-3 run to close within striking distance, 23-20.
The Summer Spikers tried to post a come-from-behind surge, but the Lady Altas did not let them through with Shallane Eniong and Marijo Medalla, who nailed two straight points to win the second set, 2-0.
Things went far for Fourbees-Perpetual come the third set, as they saw themselves behind Baguio, 8-4. Baguio was doing their best to keep the Lady Altas at bay, but midway into the frame, Fourbees-Perpetual scored eight straight points, higlighted by three straight service aces from Ana Diocareza, to erase the deficit and inch within a single point, 20-19. However, errors on their side sent Baguio closer to forcing the match into a fourth set, 23-20.
Trailing by three, the Lady Altas gathered themselves and did not let the deficit send their game into a downward spiral, sending the match to a 24-all knot behind a Diocareza drop over Baguio’s net defense. Baguio regained the lead, 25-24, after a down-the-line hit from Cindy Benitez, but two straight attack errors from their side instantly gave the Lady Altas the lead once more, 26-25. A block by Diocareza closed the set for the Lady Altas, 27-25, and the set 3-0.
Despite the victory, Fourbees-Perpetual assistant coach Michael Molino downplayed the team’s win, saying that a win shoukd not rob them out of focus in the tournament. “Sabi mga namin sa mga bata, hindi porke’t nananalo, ikasasaya na agad. May limitation. Kaya bukas, balik na naman kami sa ensayo,” said Molino.
Three Lady Altas scored in double figures to help their team in posting the W. Jamel Suyat led all scorers with 16 points, 15 of those coming from spikes. Diocareza had 12, while Cindy Imbo supplied 11. Florence Madulid came through for Baguio with 12 markers in a losing effort.
The win improved Fourbees-Perpetual to a 2-3 win-loss slate, while Baguio dropped to 1-5. The former will face PLDT next on Tuesday, April 28, while the latter will have Philippine Navy as their next assignment on Thursday, April 30. Both matches will still be held at the Arena.
The Scores:
Fourbees-Perpetual (3) – Suyat 16, Diocareza 12, Medalla 11, Cabriana 7, Eniong 7, Abcede 3, Imbo 3, Condada (L), Calleja (L)
Baguio (0) – Madulid 12, Benitez 6, Tsuchiya 5, Agudia 5, Balantac 3, Madulid 2, Rossi 1, Abella (L), Degay (L)
