The Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors imposed their will and swept the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in straight sets, 25-18 25-14 25-22, and took their first win of the 13th Shakey’s V-League Open Conference, Saturday evening at the FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan City.
The Lady Warriors built huge leads in the first and second sets anchored on Team captain Michelle Gumabao, which was enough to fuel them to a 2-0 sets advantage. UP attempted to claw back in the first set, but Pocari Sweat’s lead was too big to overhaul.
In the second set, Elaine Kasilag led the charge for the Lady Warriors as they pulled away from a tight 13-9 advantage over the Lady Maroons. Errors continued to pile up for UP, which made it easier for the white-shirts to take the second frame, 25-14.
The Lady Maroons made a game out of the third set after Marian Buitre provided the crucial hits. Former Team Captain Nicole Tiamzon added some timely hits before newbie setter Rem Cailing put the Diliman-based squad in the lead at 9-7.
Back-to-back miscues from UP conceded the momentum to Pocari Sweat in the middle part of the third frame at 13-11. Buitre and Tiamzon then steered a Lady Maroons’ comeback and levelled the match at 21. That turned out to be UP’s last stand.
“Actually, nasabihan ko sila na huwag maging complacent. Hindi basta basta kalaban yung UP, especially galing sa UAAP,” Pocari Sweat lead assistant coach Rommel Abella said. “Lalaban sila. We just kept on reminding the girls na kung ano dapat gawin. The usual the basics and combination attacks.”
Assistant coach Rommel Abella, who is coaching in place of head coach Tai Bundit, fielded Roselle Baliton and Sarah Espelita. With Espelita on the service line, Baliton did her part and denied two attempts from UP to put the Lady Warriors at match point. With the Lady Maroons scrambling on defense, Kasilag then finished the match off with a well-place drop shot, 25-22.
“Sabi lang sa amin ni coach Tai ayusin yung service reception and conditioning,” Abella said about Bundit’s last message before leaving for Thailand. “Yung core naman namin ay matagal na nagsama sa PSL kayaung transistion namin is naging smooth talaga.”
Pocari Sweat took the slight advantages in the scoring departments. They led 35-32 on attacks and 3-2 on blocks. The Lady Warriors also put up seven service aces against UP’s five. The story of the match, however, is that the Lady Maroons coughed up 30 huge errors against their opponent’s 15 that proved to be the difference.
Team captain Gumabao registered 13 markers for Pocari Sweat, 11 of them coming off attacks. Myla Pablo and Kasilag followed suit with ten points each. No Lady Maroon scored in double digits as Tiamzon finished with nine points and Buitre chipped in eight markers.
The Lady Warriors (1-0) face fellow opening day winners NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, June 1. On the other hand, the Lady Maroons (0-1) take on the Philippine Air Force Lady Raiders on Monday, June 6.
The Scores:
Pocari Sweat (3) – Gumabao 13, Pablo 11, Kasilag 10, Dadang 5, Baliton 3, Sy 2, Alkuino 1, Espelita 0, Nepomuceno 0, Gohing (L).
UP (0) – Tiamzon 9, Buitre 8, Molde 7, Carlos 5, Cailing 4, Bersola 3, Gannaban 2, Dorog 1, Layug 0, Estrañero (L), Gaiser (L)
