BaliPure claims maiden PVL crown, foils Pocari

MANILA, Philippines -  BaliPure fumbled in the second set but pulled through in the last two to stun Pocari Sweat, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24, and claim its maiden championship in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last night.

Finals MVP Grethcel Soltones took charge in the third set then teamed up with setter Jasmine Nabor in a wild fourth set finish as the Water Defenders nailed their first crown since joining the country’s premier women’s volley league last year and snapped the Lady Warriors’ championship run at three.

BaliPure, which took Game One via sweep, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22, thus avenged its finals setback to Pocari Sweat in sudden death in the Open Conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.

“We almost didn’t make it to the semis. When we entered the semis, we lost the first game. Again, we almost didn’t make it to the finals but the girls persevered. Now, it’s a different story and they displayed a different character in the finals,” said BaliPure coach Roger Gorayeb.

“I do not look at it as getting back at Pocari. This is the championship. Regardless if it’s Pocari or another team, we will play our best,” added one of the country’s winningest volley coaches.

The Water Defenders squandered a huge lead midway in the fourth but fought back from one down late in the frame behind its superb blocking then leaned on Soltones’ power and Nabor’s smarts to finally thwart the Lady Warriors.

Nabor, coming in late for Angelica Cayuna, opted not to set up their hitters and instead came through with a dump, catching the Lady Warriors’ defense off-guard for the championship point.

Soltones shoved the Water Defenders to 25-24 lead on a crosscourt hit in the earlier BaliPure offense.

Soltones rammed in 17 hits and three aces for 21 points while also dishing out 19 excellent receptions and 11 digs, Aiko Urdas came through with 16 markers while Risa Sato wound up with 15 points for BaliPure.

Pablo scored 21 points while Maricar Nepomuceno had 16 markers for the Lady Warriors.