MANILA – Negros ICC Blue Hawks kept its Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association title hopes alive after a 25-18, 12-25, 25-22, 25-23 Game 2 win over Bacoor City Strikers Metro Land Builders Corp. on Tuesday night at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.
Angel Mae Habacon, who came off the bench in this game, finished with 11 points, on 11 attacks, to be named Player of the Game as the Blue Hawks tied the best-of-three finals series at 1-1.
According to the San Beda University Red Lionesses standout, Blue Hawks head coach Edgar Barroga instructed her to come off the bench in Game 2 for her to observe the movements of the Strikers players.
“I just help our team to unlock our way to Game 3,” Habacon said in a post-game interview. “Lahat naman nagtrabaho this game and I am proud of my teammates kasi hindi talaga sila sumuko hanggang dulo.”
“Kaya ako nilagay ni coach na off the bench in this game kasi sabi niya tignan ko daw muna ‘yung laro ng kalaban and when I find something na makakatulong, like kung sino ang dapat i-target, dapat gawin ko when I enter the court,” she added.
Meanwhile, Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers remained in contention for a bronze medal finish after a 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-13 victory over Marikina Lady Shoemasters in Game 2 of the battle-for-third place series.
Joanne de Guzman finished with 14 points, all coming from attacks, to be hailed Player of the Game, Negrense Joan Doguna top-scored with 20 points, while Janeth Tulang chipped in 13 markers for Rizal.
“Naging mas composed lang kami (dito sa Game 2), hindi namin pinapansin ‘yung mga errors namin. Basta ibinigay na namin ang lahat para manalo,” De Guzman said in a post-game interview.
“This is a new game, hindi na namin iniintindi ‘yung nangyari nung Game 1 kasi may bagong opportunity na ibinigay sa amin kaya pinagtrabahuhan talaga namin,” she added.
The Game 3 of the finals between the Blue Hawks and the Strikers as well as the winner take all game for bronze between the Golden Coolers and the Lady Shoemasters are slated tonight./PN
