Games Saturday
(University of San Agustin Gym)
4 p.m. – Nxled vs Farm Fresh

GALERIES Tower clawed its way back and snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat, frustrating Gerflor, 18-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11, in a duel of last-placed teams in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena Thursday.

The Defenders have won the first two sets after going 0-27 in the first nine contests and were two match points away from completing a straight-set romp when the Highrisers scored the last three points in the third to gain a lifeline.

Fifth-set substitute Dimdim Pacres then completed the fightback with a crosscourt win, giving Galeries Tower its first-ever PVL victory.

“Thank you, Lord at ibinigay sa amin yung first win namin sa conference. They earned it naman eh. Talagang pinaghirapan nila,” said a relieved Highrisers coach Lerma Giron.

“We started very slow. Yung first two sets talagang akala namin masi-straight sets kami. Pero good thing is alam naman natin yung ladies na talagang lalaban at lalaban. Yun nga lang, nagpapabugbog hanggang sa dulo, magta-trabaho ng todo. Pinaghirapan nila ang bawat puntos,” she added.

Later, Creamline is now a win away from sweeping the elimination round after surviving Akari in four sets, 26-28, 25-14, 25-23, 25-22.

Tots Carlos had 23 points, including two blocks, as the Cool Smashers remained unbeaten after 10 games, strengthening its hold of the top spot while the Chargers ended their campaign with a 5-6 record to remain in seventh place.

Galeries Tower hopes to close out its maiden conference on a high note against Creamline on the final day of preliminaries on Tuesday.

Roma Joy Doromal, who entered in the second set, had three blocks and two service aces to finish with 15 points while Andrea Marzan also had three blocks for a 14-point outing for the Highrisers.

Fhen Emnas finished with 13 excellent sets, shining most in the last two sets while libero Juliet Catindig and Raprap Aguilar also anchored Galeries Tower’s floor defense, coming through with 20 and 11 digs, respectively. Catindig also produced 11 receptions.

“Masasabi ko lang sa teammates ko, nasubukan kasi yung katatagan. Hindi passion to eh, katatagan na lang eh. Yung gusto talaga manalo,” said Emnas.

“So yun, sabi nga ni coach, we started slow talaga and alam namin hindi yun kami pero thankful sa teammates ko, bumawi kami sa third set, and thankful din ako ng sobra at umabot kami ng fifth set, at nanalo. So yun, sobrang happy ako and sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko,” the former Adamson setter added.

The Highrisers actually yielded 44 points on unforced errors, the majority in the first two-and-a-half sets, against the Defenders’ 31.

Nette Villareal led Gerflor with 12 points while Shang Berte added 10 points, including two service aces.

The Defenders reeled to their 10th consecutive defeat, and the 15th in a row dating back from the Invitational Conference.

Gerflor will have Cignal, which is seeking to secure the remaining semifinal berth, as its final prelims opponent on Tuesday.