WHEN setter Ivy Perez sneaked in a drop shot on Foton’s second ball at matchpoint, she put an exclamation mark to the Tornadoes’ 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 title-clinching victory over the Petron Blazers in Game 3 of the Philippine Super Liga finals on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
It also triggered a wave of celebration from the team’s supporters and fans, most of whom stayed until the final festivities highlighted by the awarding of trophies and medals to the winners.
The victory capped a long and difficult ride for the Tornadoes, who stunned the Blazers with a 14-25, 25-21-25-19, 25-22 victory in Game 1, but failed to sustain their momentum in Game 2, losing by a close 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, decision that set up the all-or-nothing match yesterday.
But the Tornadoes proved to be the hungrier and steadier squad in Game 3, taking the Blazers to school in the first two sets and sustaining their fire in the third set.
Foton import Lindsay Saltzer, who was later named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, anchored the Tornadoes’ offense, scoring a total of 20 points, 18 off attacks on the net.
Saltzer was ably backed by fellow import Kathleen Messing, who had 14 points, and Perez, who fed her teammates with flawless sets.
Perez was named as first Best Setter, while Petron’s Erica Adachi was awarded as Best Second Setter.
Other awardees include Best Outside Spikers Ariel Usher from Cignal HD and Bojana Todorovic of Philips Gold, Best Middle Blockers Alexis Olgard of Philips Gold and Jaja Santiago of Foton, Michelle Gumabao and Frances Molina as Best Opposite Spikers and Petron’s Jen Reyes as Best Libero.
Petron Coach George Pascua, who steered the Blazers to back-to-back championships this year, was named as Coach of the Year after.
But despite losing the best coach plum to Pascua, Foton coach Vilet Ponce De Leon, was happy with the result, and at straight sets at that, which she said she did not expect to happen in Game 3 of the finals.
“No, we did not expect that. Sa amin naman e, we just want to play every point, every set and every game. Wala kaming target na mag 3-0 siya. We just want to make more points to bring us into a position to win,” De Leon said.
She added that the key to the win was teamwork.
“Teamwork talaga. Kasi lahat naman ng players dito sa liga magagaling. They’re seasoned players and they know what to do inside the court. But sa amin kasi naging maganda ang samahan ng mga players. They learned to play as a unit, kahit na we’re still a young team. At ‘yung mga imports namin, very coachable sila,” she added.
Petron was led by Aleona Denise “Dindin” Santiago,who finished with 14 points, and import Rupia Inck Furtado, who added seven.