Sta. Lucia and Chery Tiggo are both looking forward to building a win streak, but the Lady Realtors emerged victorious as Jovely Prado, player of the game, earned 19 points, 17 kills, two aces, and 13 excellent receptions combined by MJ Phillips’ strong play and Jonah Sabete’s 18 markers and 12 excellent receptions. 

The Lady Realtors took over the early frame of the first set with a 6-2 lead until an 11-all lead was served by Jaja Santiago and a missed reception from Sta. Lucia. 

However, with continued kills from Prado and synchronized defense from the team, they took the upper hand once again in a 16-14 lead, and shortly after, the set ended with a five-point lead as Phillips pushed through an attack and a net violation from one the Crossovers’ blockers. 

Sta. Lucia was still in control at the second set with a 4-0 lead and as the Lady Realtors displayed moderate blockings, the Crossovers’ contenders found it hard to slip kill points trying to ease a 12-deficit score with a 3-15 lead at midframe, but the set still ended with a 13-point lead in favor with Sta. Lucia.

The domination of the Lady Realtors was temporarily delayed as the match was put to a halt for 20 minutes due to a short power outage caused by heavy rains, but Sta. Lucia welcomed the third set with a 3-0 lead and remained in control with a 20-5 lead in the late frame.

However, Rachel Austero and Dindin Santiago-Manabat refused to give up and with the Lady Realtors’ unexpected continued errors the Crossovers made it to a tie 24-24, thanks to Mylene Paat, and due to Phillips attack error, hitting the antenna, followed by Dindin’s kill, the set ended, 26-24 in favor with Chery Tiggo.

In the fourth set, Cherry Tiggo was on fire to send off once again the Lady Realtors, and as their blocking system adjusted, the set ended after a massive block from Dindin against Prado with a four-point lead, extending to the fifth set.

Ultimately, the Lady Realtors pushed beyond limits as Prado served clutch hits and down-the-line hits, setting a 10-7 lead, and after a long service from Tina Salak, and Dell Palomata’s block against Dindin, Sta. Lucia concluded the game with a three-point lead.

“I don’t think bumaba (yung laro), pinush lang ng Chery Tiggo na makuha ang set na iyon. Sa part naming pinilit naming ma-compress pero a game is a game. Sometimes may error, sometimes may pressure pero napanghahawakan naman,” said Sta. Lucia head coach Eddieson Orcullo 

“Kailangan lang maintindihan ng mga bata to keep on fighting, keep on believing and enjoying the game.”