The 2016 PSL pre-season champions, RC Cola-Army Lady Troopers, opened their conference with a win against the Amy’s Kitchen-Perpetual Lady Spikers in straight sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18, in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament, today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
RC Cola-Army head coach Kungfu Reyes said experience had been their advantage over the young Amy’s Kitchen squad.
“Dynamic ang galaw ng mga bata e. Pero ‘yung pagiging bata rin nila ang naging disadvantage nila,” said Reyes. “Pinabagal namin ‘yung laro. ‘Yung pagiging beterano naman namin ‘yung ginamit namin.”
RC Cola opened the game with a 6-1 run, sparked by powerful hits from Rachel Anne Daquis, but the young Amy’s Kitchen squad answered with a 7-1 counter to lead in the first technical timeout, 8-7.
The teams then exchanged blows, with attacks from Royse Tubino, who scored a total of 15 for RC Cola, and Lourdes Clemente, who had 10 of her own, until an 18-18 deadlock.
The more experienced Lady Troopers, however, had a 7-1 run to end the set, 25-19.
The Lady Troopers flexed their muscles in the next set, leading by as much as ten, 18-8, capped by three service aces by setter Sarah Jane Gonzales. The lead was enough of a cushion for RC Cola to finish the second set, 25-17.
The Lady Spikers once again led in the first technical timeout of the third set, 8-7, and continued to hold on until a 9-9 tie. However, an 11-2 reply by RC Cola that put them up 20-11 proved to be enough for them to finish the set and the match.
Tubino led the scoring for RC Cola with 12 attacks, two service aces, and a block; Clemente had five attacks, three blocks and a couple of service aces for Amy’s Kitchen.
“Ngayon nasa 70 percent na kami, pero sana by Saturday umangat kami sa 70 percent na nilalaro namin,” said Reyes.
RC Cola (1-0) will face a Cignal (0-1) team coming off a loss to the Foton Tornadoes on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
On the other hand, Amy’s Kitchen (0-1) will have less than two days to prepare for F2 Logistics (1-0), also at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Scores:
RC Cola-Army (3) – Tubino 15, Daquis 13, Gonzaga 8, De Leon 7, Gonzales 3, De Los Reyes 3, Bautista 2, Sabas 1, Bunag 1, Salak 1, Carolino 1, Nunag 0, Siatan-Torres (L), Agno (L).
Amy’s Kitchen (0) – Clemente 10, Lara 9, Imbo 6, Versoza 3, Rosal 3, Gual 1, Raterta 1, Ramos 0, Sto. Domingo 0, Estanislao 0, Umandal 0, Medalla (L).
