Water Defenders hold off Lady Oragons

MANILA, Philippines – BaliPure continued to buck the absence of its key players, including ace Alyssa Valdez, as it turned back Team Iriga to hack out an 18-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-21 victory and wrest solo third in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The jump-serving Gretchel Soltones sustained fiery form coming off a tough five-set win over the National University Bulldogs last Monday, firing 22 hits while Janine Marciano and Amy Ahomiro combined for 23 points for the undermanned Water Defenders, who leaned on their power while pouncing on the Lady Oragons’ poor service reception.

BaliPure wavered a bit late in the fourth, enabling the Bicol-based squad to strike back and force a tie at 21. But after acting coach Ato Toyco sued for time, the Water Defenders responded with four straight points, capped by a mean Dzi Gervacio attack that wrapped up the 90-minute encounter.

BaliPure thus chalked up its second straight win after dropping a four-setter to Air Force last week, staying within striking distance with its tormentor and newcomer Pocari Sweat, which paces the eight-team field with 3-0 marks in the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

“Everybody stepped up,” said Toyco, who bucked the absence of four other key players, including player-coach Charo Soriano, Bea Tan, Ella de Jesus and Jem Ferrer.

Valdez, a former league MVP, sat out after failing to get a clearance from the team’s physical therapists after arriving just the other day from Europe, while Soriano and Tan are currently competing in the Beach Volleyball Republic International in Cagayan. Ferrer and De Jesus, on the other hand, failed to suit up due to work duties.

Iriga, which bounced back from a setback to Laoag with a straight-set romp over Baguio, slid to 1-2 in a tie with the Vigan-based squad and National U.

Grazielle Bombita and Shola Alvarez rammed in 12 hits apiece for Team Iriga which visibly lacked the much-needed firepower as it ended up 13 attack points less than the Water Defenders.

Soltones, who scored 23 hits in BaliPure’s come-from-behind win over NU, including the match-clinching last two points, and Marciano also came away with four aces each to typify their rivals’ sloppy reception.

The Lady Oragons, however, produced more blocks than their fancied rivals, 4-3, with Hannah Faurillo accounting for two.