by Kristel Satumbaga
BanKo-Perlas came back from two sets down in turning back Motolite, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 17-15, yesterday in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Reinforced Conference at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City, Laguna.
The victory breathed life into the Perlas Spikers’ semifinal bid, hiking their win-loss tally to 3-5 while sending the Motolite Spikers to their sixth defeat against three triumphs.
It also duplicated BanKo-Perlas’ 26-24, 32-30, 26-24 first-round triumph over Motolite last June 5.
With Motolite at match point, 15-14, Nicole Tiamzon stepped up for BanKo-Perlas by firing back-to-back off-the-block spikes before sealing the win with a down-the-line kill.
“We need to reset after losing the first two sets. Patibayan na lang ng loob nung fifth set (It’s a mental battle in the fifth set),” said Tiamzon.
The Perlas Spikers rediscovered their offense in the fourth set, where they erupted for 19 attacks behind the efforts of Tiamzon, Kathy Bersola and Turkish import Yasemind Yildirim.
Motolite put up a gallant stand in the fifth with Krystle Esdelle at the net before losing steam.
BanKo-Perlas still has two matches left in the eliminations – against BaliPure and Pacifictown Army – while Motolite needed to win its last elims match over PetroGazz to stay in the semis hunt.