Ultra Fast Hitters rally past Troopers

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Home Ultera squandered three match points and fought back from one point down in a gripping finish to snatch a 16-25, 20-25, 26-24, 29-27, 18-16 victory over Army yesterday and move within a win of bagging the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference crown at The  San Juan.

Arena The Ultra Fast Hitters slackened down a bit after storming to a 14-11 lead in the decider, committing a net violation and getting blocked twice while yielding two attack points with only a point to show off Honey Tubino’s service error that saw the Lady Troopers, who blew a 2-1 set lead and 21-16 cushion in the fourth, grab a 16-15 edge.

But the Ultra Fast Hitters proved steadier in a nerve-wracking finish, forcing a tie on an Army net violation and regaining the lead on the last of a slew of Sue Roces’ running attacks before clinching the thrilling two-hour, seven-minute victory on Army’s Joanne Bunag’s faulty hit that went wide.

That gave Home Ultera a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series for the crown in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s with the Open Conference champions hoping to wrap it all up in Game Two next Sunday.

Home Ultera coach Roger Gorayeb went to his local aces with their imports still trying to blend well with their brand of play and Gretchel Soltones, Alyssa Valdez, Aiza Pontillas, Roces, Charo Soriano, setter Rubie de Leon and libero Lizlee Ann Pantone responded to rally past the Lady Troopers.

Home Ultera coach Roger Gorayeb kept Valdez, suiting up for the first time this conference, out of the game in the first set but the Open and Collegiate Conference MVP still went on to topscore with 25 hits, including 22 attack points, while Soltones wound up with 12 markers and Pontillas had 11 hits.

“She’s an integral part of this team and she showed it in this game,” said Gorayeb of Valdez.

Imports Victoria Hurtt scored eight points while Sareea Freeman had five markers, both in three sets, although Gorayeb tapped the latter in the latter part of the fifth frame.

“We still have a hard time adjusting with our imports and vice versa,” said Gorayeb. “But the good thing was the locals stepped up.”

It was a sorry setback for Army, which looked ready to turn what was expected to be a fiercely fought duel between the two fancied teams by pouncing on Home Ultera’s listless start to sweep the first two sets in emphatic fashion.

Former MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga fired 19 hits while Tubino and Aby Maraño scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Lady Troopers.