Pacifictown Army hopes to ride on the momentum of its impressive debut and pounce on Creamline’s shaky start to its title-retention campaign as the Lady Troopers shoot for a second straight win in Season 3 of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Flying V Center in San Juan today (Wednesday, May 29).
With imports Janelle Jordan and Olena Lymareva-Flink firing 15 hits apieces and locals Honey Tubino, comebacking Jovelyn Gonzaga and veteran Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo combining for 24 points, the Army Troopers launched their title drive with a 25-20, 25-16, 24-26, 25-23 victory over the BaliPure Water Defenders last Sunday.
In contrast, the reigning champions suffered a stinging 22-25, 24-26, 22-25 defeat to the PetroGazz Angels in a setback marred by the sidelining of Creamline’s main player Alyssa Valdez due to injury in the second seat.
After dropping the opening frame, the Cool Smashers tried to fight back in the second but lost their momentum after Valdez sustained a left ankle injury after slipping while trying to keep the ball in play off the block with the score tied at 16.
She was carried off the court and didn’t return, finishing with five points and the team never recovered from there, enabling the Angels to pull off a tight two-point escape before holding off their rivals to complete a surprise straight-set romp in a big reversal marking the start of the third season of the country’s premier league organized by Sports Vision.
“I just hope nothing serious happened,” said the power-hitting former Ateneo ace who is expected to suit up against the Army Troopers in their 3 p.m. clash.
The Angels, led by imports Wilma Salas and Janisa Johnson, are also going all out to nail another win as they face the Banko-Perlas Spikers in the 5 p.m. main dish.
The power-hitting Salas is expected to further settle down after delivering a 20-point game a day upon her arrival with the current member of the Cuban national team also hoping to draw solid backup from Johnson and the rest of the local crew led by Jeanette Panaga, Cherry Rose Nunag and setter Djanel Cheng.
But the Perlas Spikers are also coming into the match raring to showcase their wares behind a practically intact roster and a pair of explosive reinforcements in Kia Bright and Turkish import Yasemin Sahin Yildirim.
Veterans Dzi Gervacio, Sue Roces, Jem Ferrer, Gizelle Tan, Roma Doromal Ella de Jesus, Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon are also ready to provide the needed support and help steer Banko-Perlas to a crack at the crown after a couple of third place finishes last year.
