BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — After six-straight painful losses, the already-ran PLDT finally scored its breakthrough win in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference after beating Perlas, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21, on Sunday night at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center.
With Perlas threatening to comeback, Isa Molde converted a hit to put PLDT at match-point, 24-21, in the third and final set.
PLDT then overcame a powerful attack from Nicole Tiamzon before Molde dropped the hammer on Perlas.
“Kami naman simula umpisa hinahabol namin yung confidence level namin, tapos yung mga bata naman masipag… kaya lang neneng nene pa yung team eh. Pero kagandahan naman ngayon, nag respond sila may pinractice kasi kami kahapon,” said PLDT head coach Roger Gorayeb.
“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa panalo, para maibalik din yung confidence ng mga bata. Nakakuha na kami, lalaban pa kami may dalawang laro pa kami,” he added.
Molde finished with 15 points and eight excellent receptions while Chin Basas and Jorelle Singh added 11 points each.
Veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan registered 24 excellent sets and five points while libero Alyssa Eroa gathered 22 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.
The Power Hitters improved their slate to 1-6.
Tiamzon, Sue Roces, and Heather Guino-o all had seven points each as Perlas dropped to a 1-4 standing. Two more losses for Perlas will spell doom to their Final Four hopes.
PLDT will have a three-day break before facing BaliPure on Thursday at 3:00 PM while Perlas will go up against Sta. Lucia on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
