Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors blew a two-set lead but recovered in time to beat Chery Tiggo Crossovers in a five-set battle at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.
The Lady Realtors’ net defense held up in the fifth set, as they defeated the Crossovers 25-20, 25-12, 24-26, 21-25, 15-10 to earn their second win in a row in the 2021 PVL Open Conference.
Sta. Lucia controlled the first two sets. The Lady Realtors’ momentum was however halted as the competition was delayed for 20 minutes owing to heavy rains that prompted a brief power outage, resulting in dimmed lighting at the arena.
With a 24-23 third-set lead in the third set, Sta. Lucia was one point away from sweeping the match, but Mylene Paat forced a deuce, 24-all. Lady Realtor’s top scorer MJ Phillips then committed a crucial attack error giving the lead to Chery Tiggo. Dindin Santiago-Manabat then struck a big hit to force the fourth set.
With the momentum now on their side, the Crossovers bagged the fourth set, forcing a fifth set.
Sabete and Prado came to the rescue in the decider, giving the team a 12-8 lead.
The Crossovers cut the lead to 10-12, but Tina Salak’s error and back-to-back blocks from Phillips and Dell Palomata sealed Sta. Lucia’s first conference winning streak.
Chery Tiggo fell to 3-2, while Sta. Lucia advanced to 3-3 in the competition.