MANILA – PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters relied on its blocking in the endgame to score a 25-15, 25-20, 24-26, 25-27, 15-12 win over Generika-Ayala Lifesavers in knockout quarterfinals of Philippine Superliga Grand Prix on Saturday at San Juan Arena.
Reinforcements Grace Lazard and Kendra Dahlke threw a lot of defensive gems in the deciding set to tow the Power Hitters to the semifinals round, where they will face F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Dahlke delivered 33 kills and four blocks to finish with 37 points while Lazard had 17 kills and seven blocks for a 25-point effort for the Power Hitters, which were dragged to a do-or-die game after losing Game 1 to the Lifesavers.
Locals Aiko Urdas and Lizlee Pantone also submitted impressive numbers with the former finishing with 16 points while the latter contributing 20 digs before crashing with an injury early in the fifth set.
Trailing 0-4 early in the fifth set, the Power Hitters clawed its way back behind four blocks of Lazard to take a 7-6 edge. Lifesavers’ Kanjana Kuthaisong was able to force a deadlock at 12-all before PLDT took a 14-12 edge on hits by Dahlke and Lazard.
Dahlke finished the match as she unleashed a powerful hit from the middle. The Lifesavers tried to contest the play, but the challenge system revealed that it was a successful hit in favor of the Power Hitters.
Kuthaisong tallied 22 points while Angeli Araneta chipped in 21 for the Lifesavers. Kseniya Kocyigit, Fiola Ceballos and Marivic Meneses combined for 31 points but still was not enough for Generika-Ayala./PN
