Tolenada’s career game lifts Philips over Main N’ Tail

Games on Monday:

(Cuneta Astrodome)

4:15 p.m. – Philips Gold vs Cignal

6:15 pm – Petron vs Shopinas

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am rookie Iris Tolenada came through with her best performance to date as she lifted Philips Gold to a 25-19, 27-25, 25-16 victory over Main 'N Tail to barge into the win column in the 2015 Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Tuesday.

After a couple of duds, Tolenada, this year's first overall pick out of San Francisco State University, came through big with 20 excellent sets while chipping in six hits to send the Lady Slammers to their first win after dropping their first two.

"She carried us through in this win and we'll see her improve as the season progresses," said Philips Gold coach Francis Vicente of her 5-8, 23-year-old setter, who owns the distinction as the first one from her school to win the MVP award in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The power-hitting troika of Myla Pablo, Michelle Gumabao and Rossan Fajardo were the biggest beneficiaries of Tolenada's excellent sets and finished with 14, 10 and 10 hits, respectively.

Desiree Dadang and Hazel Mea contributed a combined 14 to help in the cause.

Former NCAA MVP and Perpetual Help standout Honey Royse Tubino unleashed a match-best 15 hits, all coming on kills, but none of her teammates could score eight points or more as the Lady Stallions absorbed a second defeat in three outings.

Vicente was also quick to point out that the team played loose after he gave a pep-talk right before the match.

"I gave them an inspirational talk, which worked," he said. "Also, I made some adjustments on substitution and had better service and reception. I'm glad that everything worked as planned."

Meanwhile, the league takes a weeklong break in observance of the Lenten Season and will resume on Monday with Philips Gold clashing with Cignal and league-leading Petron battling Shopinas at the Cuneta Astrodome.