PETRON experimented during the course of its Philippine Super Liga (PSL) game against PLDT MyDSL and almost paid the price.
The Blaze Spikers went off to a fast start and then found themselves in a dogfight with the Speed Boosters before prevailing, 25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 25-19, to book their first tournament win Wednesday night at The Arena in San Juan.
Already up by two sets, the blue and white team failed to finish off PLDT right away and needed two more sets to get the job done and even its record at 1-1.
Petron coach Vilet Ponce admitted Petron loosened up after winning the first two sets, allowing the Speed Boosters to get back and win the third.
“Nag-loosen kami sa defense (sa third set),” she said. “We were trying a different approach in the third set, eh 'di pa masyado ready for the combination kaya ayun.”
PLDT made the fourth set a close one, rallying from a 10-16 deficit to make it 15-17.
But Aiza Maizo teamed up with Gretchon Ho to finally finish off the Speed Boosters, with Ho’s power hit clinching the match for Petron.
Former University of Santo Tomas stalwart Maika Ortiz took charge for the Blaze Spikers with 22 points from 15 spikes and seven of Petron’s 15 blocks, while Angge Tabaquero and Maizo each had 13 markers.
The loss by the Speed Boosters (1-1) left Cagayan Valley as the only unbeaten team in the tournament and alone on top of the standings with a 2-0 record.
Adamson University alumnae Angela Benting and Pau Soriano led the PLDT cause with 21 and 17 points, respectively.
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