Last year’s semifinalists San Beda College Lady Red Spikers had to carve an epic five-setter, come-from-behind win past the Jose Rizal University Lady Bombers, 23-25, 25-19, 13-25, 25-19, 15-9, to open their season, Friday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Mendiola-based team had service reception problems early on and it continued throughout the match. It was something the Lady Bombers capitalized en route to a 2-1 set advantage.
Head coach Nemesio Gavino Jr. shared, “Kailangan naming ayusin yung sa reception namin. Sobrang dami naming misreceive.”
Nonetheless, in the fourth and fifth sets, it was the crucial-game experience of San Beda that showed. Led by Nieza Viray, who registered 19 points and skipper Cesca Racraquin, who had 13, the red-shirts were just relentless in the end game.
“Character na yun eh,” the San Beda mentor talked of the fifth frame. “Yung mga pinaghirapan namin, sa mga ganung sitwasyon dapat mapakita.”
Dolly Verzosa paced JRU with 18 points, while captain Shola Alvarez had 17 markers.
San Beda (1-0) will face University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Thursday, January 11. On their part, JRU (0-1) will take on San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Monday, January 8.
The Scores:
SBC (3) – Viray N 19, Racraquin C 13, Espiritu 11, Viray J 9, Cuevas 6, Amador 3, Paras 3, Tannagan 0, Manuel 0, Buno L, Racraquin D L.
JRU (2) – Verzosa 18, Alvarez 17, Montojo 8, Ebuenga 7, Rivera 5, Bodiongan 4, Macaraya L.
