Buoyed by a two-game winning surge, Motolite sustained momentum, dispatching the Philippine Air Force Lady Jet Spikers in straight sets, 25-14, 25-18, 25-23, in the 2019 PVL Open Conference, Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Sloppy reception marred Motolite at the onset of the third set. Down by six at 9-15, Tots Carlos and Myla Pablo took turns piercing through the Dell Palomata-fortified wall of Air Force, whittling away the deficit and knotting the count at 18-all.
Trading crucial blows in the ensuing sequences, the match swung to another stalemate at 23-all after Angel Antipuesto roofed Carlos. However, Carlos responded with an off-the-block hit that put her team at match-point. Isa Molde then fired an off-the-block hit of her own to lift Motolite to a 3-1 card.
“The first and second sets were convincing. Now, the third set, we started slow. Because of the way we started, we noticed as we continued playing, we struggled,” Motolite head coach Godfrey Okumu. “We seemed to be making an effort in things that we[‘re] supposed to do effortlessly.”
Pablo top-scored with 15 points, all but one coming from attack. Carlos lagged a point behind with 14 markers, alongside three blocks, three aces, and eight excellent receptions.
Molde hammered down nine attacks for 10 points to go along with 10 excellent digs. Ai Gannaban supplied seven markers spiked by two aces, which she nailed in succession to snatch the first deadlock in the third frame at 18-all.
Motolite playmaker Iris Tolenada paced her team with 17 excellent sets laced with six points.
On the other hand, Palomata topped Air Force with 14 points off 10 attacks, three blocks, and an ace.
Antipuesto managed seven attacks and three blocks, notching nine markers for the Lady Jet Spikers, who dropped to 0-4.
Looking to stretch their streak to four, Motolite will face PacificTown–Army on Sunday. Meanwhile, Air Force square off against the Petro Gazz Angels on the same day. Both matches will be played at the FilOil Arena.
