IMPORTS Grace Lazard and Kendra Dahlke powered PLDT Home Fibr in making short work of Sta. Lucia, 25-15, 26-24, 25-13, to regain its winning ways and tighten its hold of the third place in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Thursday at the Arena in San Juan City.
Lazard led the charge for the Power Hitters unloading 11 kills, six blocks and a pair of service aces for a game-high 19 points, while Dahlke fired 15 points off 10 spikes, four aces and a block laced up with 13 digs as PLDT bounced back from a three-set defeat to Petron two days ago that halted its three-game winning streak.
Locals Shola Alvarez and Aiko Urdas also shone with eight points each with Alvarez protecting the floor with 14 digs and six excellent receptions.
PLDT improved with a 7-5 win-loss record keeping its hold of the third place before battling Cignal (6-6) on Tuesday.
Power Hitters coach Roger Gorayeb is glad that his wards are slowly clicking and peaking as they won four of their five games in the second round.
But he rued on their complacency in the second round that allowed the Lady Realtors to force a tight encounter forcing the Power Hitters in committing most of their 12 errors in the frame before Dahlke delivered the set-clinching ace for the two set lead.
"Medyo namigay lang kami ng errors noong second set. Sabi ko sa kanila na hindi pwedeng mawala kami sa focus ng ganoon. Hindi namin dapat i-pressure 'yung sarili namin," Gorayeb said.
Import Casey Schoenlein and middle blocker Rachel Austero had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Sta. Lucia dropped to 2-8 card before battling the streaking Generika-Ayala (3-7) on Saturday.
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