The Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors are now on a roll, having coasted to their third straight win at the expense of the Bureau of Customs Transformers via straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-14, in the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference on Saturday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Breanna Mackie and Myla Pablo led Pocari’s offense with 14 and 11 points respectively. Team captain Michele Gumabao supplied 8 markers. Iris Tolenada had 23 excellent sets in tonight’s win.
Pocari Sweat had the upper hand all throughout the opening set, but Customs were also consistent in making it a tough battle. From a 22-16 deficit, Valdez carried the load for BOC, scoring five straight to lift her team closer to Pocari, 23-21. The Lady Warriors, however, were able to stave off BOC’s charge, as Pablo and Gumabao delivered the last open hits to eke out the set win, 25-22.
The Lady Warriors’ pace went a step slower in the next frame, but they were able to overcome that in the closing moments. Behind by just a solitary point, 16-15, Pocari hijacked the set through down-the-line kills from Gumabao and Andrea Kacsits to snatch the lead, 23-20. Their own errors let BOC score, but a Kacsits spike plus a service error from the Transformers sent Pocari to a 2-0 lead, 25-22.
Pocari sustained momentum come the third and last period, sending Customs down reeling. From an 8-7 deficit, Pocari turned up on both ends and took the lead away from Customs once more, 16-12. With Pablo stepping up her net defense, the Lady Warriors were able to pull a beastly 9-4 run to end the set and the match in their favor, 25-14, to post their third straight win.
“Happy kami sa turnout ng laro ngayon, kasi nakita namin na nage-gel na yung team,” said Pocari head coach Rommel Abella post-game.
“Happy kami sa effort na pinakita nila,” he added.
Alyssa Valdez led Customs with 18 markers off 15 kills. Thai import Kanjana Kuthaisong added 10 in a losing effort.
Pocari Sweat’s next assignment will be the Laoag Power Smashers on Monday, October 24, at 4:00 PM, while BOC will play Air Force next on October 29, Saturday, at 6:00 PM.
The Scores:
Pocari Sweat (3) – Mackie 14, Pablo 11, Gumabao 8, Kacsits 6, Dadang 6, Tolenada 3, Enclona L, Gohing L.
BOC (0) – Valdez 18, Kuthaisong 10, Jaisaen 5, Vargas 3, Soriano 2, Mabbayad 2, Llagoso 1, Emnas 0, Mandapat 0, Ibisa L.
