Shopinas.com nips Philips Gold, shares early lead with Petron

 

By Mark Escarlote  | ABS-CBN Sports

Shopinas.com pounced on Philips Golds’ erratic game as the Lady Clickers collected their second straight win for a share of the lead sweeping the Lady Slammers, 25-18, 26-24, 29-27, Sunday in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

Slowly working with their court chemistry, the Lady Clickers tied the idle Petron Blaze Spikers on top of the standings in their first of back-to-back games.      

“Ngayon medyo nakaka-adjust na ng kaunti kasi mas nakikilala na nila ng kaunti yung bawat isa then kahit papano guma-gamble na magbigay ng play,” said Shopinas.com coach Ramil De Jesus after his squad’s follow up four-set victory against the Mane ‘N Tail Lady Stallions last Thursday.

Stephanie Mercado scored all her nine points from kills while Cha Cruz also scored nine with team captain Micmic Laborte had eight for the Lady Clickers, who dealt their former players Michelle Gumabao and Melissa Gohing their second straight loss in as many outings wearing the Philips Gold uniform.

Shopinas.com will take on the Foton Tornadoes on Monday while Philips Gold squares off with Mane ‘N Tail.

The Lady Slammers got close in tying the match in the second set, building a 22-19 lead. Philips Gold got to set point at 24-23 after an error by Mercado.

But the Lady Slammers collapsed in the end game with Shopinas.com reserve April Hingpit scoring on an easy back-against-the-net return that lazily dropped in front of the confused Lady Slammers before Philips Gold gave away the frame with another miscue.

The Francis Vicente-mentored Lady Slammers got another chance of extending the match, reaching set point at 24-23. Leuseht Dawis committed a service error in the ensuing play to tie the set at 24 before Laborte pushed Shopinas.com at match point advantage with a through the block hit.

Direct hire Myla Pablo tipped in the equalizer to the back row, Laborte again gave the Lady Clickers the match point advantage but an error by Shopinas.com and an attack from Hazel Mea turned the set point back to Philips Gold, 27-26.

Lady Slammer Siemens Dadang’s service fell short and Kim Dy blocked Gumabao’s spike to put Shopinas.com back at the helm before Pablo committed Philips Gold’s last of 34 errors with an attack that went straight to the net to end the game.

The loss put in naught a good performance from Gumabao, who had 13 points, and overall top pick Filipino-American Iris Tonelada’s 42 excellent sets.