Following a quick opening day loss, the Tacloban Fighting Warays staved off the short-handed Petro Gazz Angels, 25-17, 27-25, 21-25, 14-25, 15-13, for their first win in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil Flying V Center.
Winning the first two sets, the Fighting Warays collapsed and opened the door for Petro Gazz to take the next two frames handily.
In a back-and-forth fifth set, former NCAA Most Valuable Player Shola Alvarez pulled through, swinging a cross-court hit from the right to give Tacloban a 14-13 lead. Fighting Warays import Hyapa Amporn gave her team the set-clinching point, blocking Petro Gazz’s foreign reinforcement Anastasiia Trach.
Head coach Nes Pamilar admitted that Tacloban fell victim to complaceny, leading to a drawn-out match.
“Parang masyadong nag-kumpyansa, lalo nung nakita na isa lang ang import ng kalaban. So first set, second set, kinapitan pero nung third set, sinabi ko noong naglolokohan na sila, sinabi ko di pa tayo tapos, bakit kailangan natin biru-biruin ‘yung laro,” said Pamilar.
“Kaya nga noong natalo after noon, pinagsabihan ko, medyo napagalitan ko, bumaba ang laro. So pagdating ng fifth set, sabi ko buuin natin ulit. Another position na lang tayo, tingnan natin kung anong mangyayari. Basta kailangan mag-tiyaga lang,” the legendary mentor furthered.
Amporn finished with 23 points while three-time NCAA champion Jovielyn Prado added 19 markers.
The Fighting Warays (1-0) take on the young Bali Pure Water Defenders (0-1) on May 19.
Trach managed 27 points for Petro Gazz who had Kaddi Kullerkann sit out due to what team management described as a minor injury.
The Angels (0-2) also take on Bali Pure (0-1) on May 16.
The Scores
Tacloban (3) – Amporn 23, Prado 19, Sangpan 9, Alvarez 7, Negrito 7, Guino-O 4, Marzan 2, Abil 1, Guillema 0, Marzan 0, Galang (L)
Petro Gazz (2) – Trach 27, Mercado 20, Austero 10, Nepomuceno 6, Musa 5, Saet 4, Tiu 4, Cheng 0, Mendrez 0, Encolna (L)
