ILOCOS NORTE - MJ Balse-Pabayo took charge late in the fourth set, scoring two hits to complete Black Mamba Army's fightback for a 25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 26-24 victory over a debuting Bali Pure side in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra here.
Like in the third frame, the Troopers trailed the majority of the fourth but they put their act together in time on both occasions behind Royse Tubino and Pabayo, whose attack broke a 24-all count and whose soft hit in the next play proved enough to lift the team to a rebound from a four-set defeat to the Petro Gazz Angels last Sunday.
The Water Defenders redeemed themselves from a sloppy opening set performance with a scrambling win in the next then controlled the next two frames before barely holding on to a 24-23 lead on a Gen Casugod hit.
But Jovelyn Gonzaga levelled the count with a blast and Pabayo took over to spike the team's triumph.
"Luckily nanalo pero yung laro medyo malayo pa dun sa hinihingi namin na performance so considering na nanalo kami nung first set tapos bigla kaming bumababa," Army head coach Kungfu Reyes said.
"Halos mga naglalaro samin mga beterano pa so nire-ready lang namin yung ibang mga bata namin para at least kahit papaano nakikita nila kung paano maglaro yung mga beterano."
Leading the way for Army was the duo of Pabayo and Gonzaga.
Tubino slammed 17 attacks for 19 points while Gonzaga had 13 points, 16 digs, and 12 excellent receptions.
Pabayo chipped in nine markers.
Grace Bombita led BaliPure with 18 points while Bern Flora scattered 15 points, 27 digs, and 23 receptions.
