Fighting Warays stun Lady Warriors, end slump in PVL

MANILA, Philippines — Tacloban’s Fighting Warays took a solid 2-1 set lead, lost some steam in the fourth but came armed to the teeth in the decider to score an earth-shaking 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 15-9 conquest of Myla Pablo and her Pocari Sweat-Air Force team and arrest a three-game skid in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference yesterday.

Tacloban thus closed out the first round with a 3-4 slate while dealing Pocari Sweat-Air Force its second straight loss and third overall against three victories.

Dimdim Pacres, playing in her second game for the Fighting Warays, punched in a game-high 21 points built on 18 hits and three blocks after an 18-point effort the last time out as the Fighting Warays wrested control in the second and third set.

Jovielyn Prado came up with 16 points and 25 excellent receptions, Heather Guino-o also had 16 points she laced with 13 digs while playmaker Kyle Negrito scored eight on top of her 32 excellent sets.

Pablo turned in a triple-double of 16 points, 15 excellent receptions and 13 digs as she rallied Pocari Sweat-Air Force in the fourth set to force the decider.

She pumped in three points in the Lady Warriors’ 8-3 closing spurt that enabled them to break off a 17-all count and even the match.

She also scored a hit to push Pocari within 9-12 in the fifth but failed to carry the Lady Warriors to victory as Prado fired back-to-back hits and Pacres smashed a hit off her block to seal it for Tacloban.

Pacres and Jeannie delos Reyes gave the Fighting Warays a 5-3 lead in the decider which they stretched to 8-4 behind a double block by Delos Reyes and Guino-o. Tacloban stayed in control to the finish.