POCARI-AIR FORCE rebounded from a tough straight-set loss to PayMaya with an imposing four-set triumph over BanKo-Perlas to split its Tuguegarao matches in the Premier Volleyball League 2 Reinforced Conference at the People’s gym yesterday.
The Lady Warriors quickly recovered from their 20-25, 19-25, 22-25 setback to the High Flyers Saturday although they needed to shake off a lopsided first set defeat to blast the Perlas Spikers, 15-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22, for a 1-1 start in their title-retention drive in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Imports Maddie Palmer and Arnelie Love, who struggled for just a combined 15-point output against PayMaya, more than doubled their joint effort this time, finishing with 31 hits while local ace Myla Pablo improved from a 12-point debut with a 15-hit blast to help power the Lady Warriors to the one-hour, 35-minute victory.
Palmer came away with 14 attack points and finished with 16 markers while Love took care of the net with Jeanette Panaga and produced four blocks for a 15-point output.
Panaga added eight hits, including three blocks for the team’s 11, six more than their rivals. Pocari-Air Force likewise cashed in on BanKo-Perlas’ poor reception and delivered 11 aces.
It was a disappointing loss for BanKo-Perlas, which came into the match brimming with confidence after hacking out a thrilling 22-25, 25-16, 25-23, 17-25, 15-11 victory over fancied Creamline the previous night.
But after a dominant first-set showing, the Perlas Spikers lost their sting, rhythm and poise in the face of the Lady Warriors’ all-out charge in the next three frames, enabling the defending champions to cruise to victory before a big Sunday crowd in the league’s first out-of-town sortie hosted by the Province of Tuguegarao and backed by Toyota Tuguegarao, Globe, Mikasa, Asics, Puregood and Robinsons Malls.
Kia Bright and fellow import Jutarat Montripila put in a pair of 18-hit efforts while Amy Ahomiro added 10 hits but after an impressive opening set show, the Perlas Spikers lost their luster and succumbed to the Lady Warriors’ power game.