Tacloban checks 3-game skid

MANILA, Philippines — Tacloban hung tough in a back-and-forth battle in the fifth set as it edged Petro Gazz, 15-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13, to check a three-game slide in the Premier Volleyball League at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center in Bulacan yesterday.

Heather Guino-o scored on a combination play to shatter a 13-all count then the Angels’ Mary Mendrez sent her attack wide to hand the victory to the Fighting Warays.

Tacloban improved to 5-7 but stayed at sixth while shoving Petro Gazz to 5-5 for joint fourth with Pocari Sweat-Air Force.

The Fighting Warays rode the momentum of their fourth set win, opening the fifth on a 6-2 lead before falling into errors that helped the Angels seize the lead at 7-10 and stay ahead at 8-11.

But Jovie Prado and Guino-o countered on attacks and Mary Esguerra denied Paneng Mercado in a stretch that also saw Petro Gazz fall to two costly miscues to regain the lead at 13-12.