Jovelyn Gonzaga heats up late as PacificTown-Army salvages bronze

Following a morale-boosting Game Two win, the PacificTown-Army Lady Troopers carried the momentum and stunned the BanKo Perlas Spikers in a five-set thriller, 18-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13, in Game Three of the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference Bronze Medal series, Sunday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

With the win, the Lady Troopers salvaged bronze – much to the delight of Army head coach Kungfu Reyes.

“Nakuha namin yung bronze na shine like a gold sa amin,” he beamed.

With the game hung in the balance, the Perlas Spikers, who dropped the fourth frame, channeled a renewed vigor entering the decider, racing to an 8-4 lead.

The Lady Troopers banked on their length as they imposed their net defense to slice the deficit to two, 8-10. Nicole Tiamzon then overcooked a hit that further trimmed their once four point cushion to a solitary point, 9-10.

Though Tiamzon atoned for her error as she hammered the differential hits to give her Perlas Spikers breathing room at 10-12, Olena Lymareva-Flink and Jovelyn Gonzaga linked up to knot the count.

Struggling in the first four sets, Gonzaga got it going from that point onward as she denied Dzi Gervacio in the ensuing play that broke the deadlock. While Tiamzon momentarily stopped the bleeding, Lymareva-Flink tipped the scales to PacificTown-Army once more before Gonzaga delivered the icing on the cake via an ace.

“Siya na ano natin, siya panapos, ang finishing touch,” Reyes cheerily said.

Gonzaga finished the contest with nine points spiked by two aces to go along 20 excellent digs.

Lymareva-Flink, who also delivered momentum-swinging blows late, exploded for 32 points on top of 12 excellent receptions.

Fellow reinforcement Jenelle Jordan contributed 19 points built on 16 attacks and three blocks while Royse Tubino chipped 12 points, three of which coming from blocks as well.

Alina Bicar dished out 34 excellent sets to go along four points.

Though the Lady Troopers stormed back from a crucial hole in the fifth set, it was not the only pit that they were able to claw their way back from in the match.

PacificTown-Army dropped the first and third sets that got its back against the wall. In the fourth set, the Lady Troopers erected a lead that eventually swelled into double-digits.

The Perlas Spikers relied on Tiamzon in scoring. The BanKo skipper had 22 points, all but two from attacks, and eight excellent digs.

Sutadta Chuewulim managed 16 points laced with 20 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions. Gervacio provided four blocks for a total of 13 points.

Jem Ferrer tossed 31 excellent sets and notched three points for BanKo, who rose from seventh to fourth this conference.