Pacifictown Army survived BanKo-Perlas, 25-22, 23-25, 27-29, 25-20, 15-7, Sunday to finish the first-round eliminations on a high note in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.
Seldom-used Jem Gutierrez came off the bench in the fourth and scored all her seven points in the crunch to lift the Lady Troopers to their third win in five games.
Army coach Kungfu Reyes lauded Gutierrez’s efforts to save the day.
“Siya (Gutierrez) yung game-changer ngayon,” said Reyes on Gutierrez, who is also his player in University of Santo Tomas.
Gutierrez said she was analyzing BanKo-Perlas’ defense and applied what she thought her team needed when she stepped in.
“Nakita ko na kailangan namin ng mga down-the-line attacks kaya yun yung mindset ko nung pumasok ako,” Gutierrez said.
Jenelle Jordan erupted for 23 points built on 21 kills and two blocks for Army while Lena Lymareva-Flink and Royse Tubino chipped in 19 and 16 points.
Meanwhile, Motolite snapped a four-game losing spell with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 drubbing of BaliPure.
Motolite dictated the tempo with Channon Thompson leading the way to deal the Water Defenders their fourth consecutive loss. (Kristel Satumbaga)
