Alyssa Valdez of PLDT Home Ultera is defended by Army’s Jennifer Fortuno (7), Mariel Desengano (6) and Norie Jane Diaz (3) in Shakey’s V-League Finals.
THE PLDT Home Ultera outgunned the Army Lady Troopers in a hard-hitting affair, 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, to capture the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference crown via sweep yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Foiled in a rollercoaster third set, the Ultra Fast Hitters outlasted the Lady Troopers in the fourth that was close throughout until Alyssa Valdez bucked a sore knee and presided the team’s late charge with a series of vicious spikes before Army’s Aby Maraño handed the crown to Home Ultera with a net violation.
Valdez, tallied 22 points, including four aces, after a 25-hit effort in powering Home Ultera to a come-from-behind 16-25, 20-25, 26-24, 29-27, 18-16 victory in Game One. She took home the Finals MVP honors.
The one-hour, 50-minute victory, marked by a number of long rallies, superb blocking, stinging spikes, tips and dinks, also capped Home Ultera’s domination of Army as the Ultra Fast Hitters also edged the Lady Troopers, 2-1, to snare the Open Conference diadem early this year.
Gorayeb also completed a record personal “slam,” winning all three titles disputed in the 12th season of the league where it all started, including the Collegiate championship for National University over former team Ateneo.
Import Sareea Freeman backed Valdez with 17 hits, including six blocks and a number of tips.
Like in the series’ opener, Gorayeb drew balanced scoring from his stellar roster with Sue Roces and Cebuana standout Gretchel Soltones firing 10 hits apiece and Rysabelle Devanadera and import Victoria Hurtt combining for 11 points.
Setter Rubie de Leon also put in another solid performance, finishing with 28 excellent sets while chipping in four points, including two tips, while libero Lizlee Ann Pantone provided another solid floor defense for the Ultra Fast Hitters.
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