BANKO-Perlas completed a come-from-behind win over BaliPure, 24-26, 13-25, 25-13, 25-22, 15-11, to boost its chances for the semifinals in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan.
Kathy Bersola led the way for the Spikers with a career-high 24 points, from 20 kills and four blocks.
Nicole Tiamzon also had 20 points for BanKo-Perlas, while Ella de Jesus had 10 markers and seasoned setter Jet Ferrer tossed 44 of the team’s 54 excellent sets in a match that took almost two hours to finish.
“Sabi namin kailangan talaga naming mag-show ng kaunting pride, na we’re mature enough, we’re brave enough na alam naming kaya namin,” said Bersola.
After gaining momentum in the third and fourth sets, BanKo-Perlas cruised to a 6-2 lead in the fifth set before Aiko Urdas kept BaliPure within two, 6-8.
Amanda Villanueva and Tiamzon delivered the goods for the Spikers as they widened the gap, 13-8. Urdas and Jerrili Malabanan, however, refused to give up to cut the lead down, 11-13.
But Bersola pushed BanKo-Perlas at match point and de Jesus sealed the win.
The Spikers improved to 3-3, while the Water Defenders dropped to 2-3.
Grethcel Soltones finished with 20 points for BaliPure, Urdas added 16 and setter Jasmine Nabor had 14 markers and 32 excellent sets.
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