The Philippine Star

Pablo gets job done for skidding Pocari-Air Force

- By KRISTINA VILLANUEVA

Pocari Sweat-Air Force wiped out a 0-2 set deficit then leaned on Myla Pablo at endgame to nip Petro Gazz, 17-25, 27-29, 25-16, 25-23, 1513 and check a two-game slide in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Pablo dropped three of the Lady Warriors’ last five points as they erased a 10-11 deficit in the fifth and secured their fifth win against five losses to remain at fifth.

A block by Jonah Sabete on Pablo allowed the Angels to save the match point but Rachel Austero’s service sailed wide in a sorry finish for Petro Gazz which dropped to 5-4 after back-to-back wins but stayed at fourth.

Pocari Sweat-Air Force coach Jasper Jimenez was relieved to get the victory after his squad opened the second round on a pair of losses to Tacloban and Ateneo-Motolite.

“Congratula­tions to our star Myla Pablo, she lifted the team. This is very crucial for us because we lost two straight games,” said Jimenez.

Pablo fired 22 points built on 20 attacks while also delivering on the defensive end with 17 excellent receptions.

Creamline regained its footing following a stinging loss the last time out as it clobbered Tacloban, 25-16, 25-16, 26-24, to rejoin BanKoPerla­s at second.

Alyssa Valdez left the match in the second set due to a recurring ankle pain but returned midway in the third to power the Cool Smashers to the victory that enabled them to recover from a previous five-setter loss to Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles and hike their card to 7-9.

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