Jovie Prado and Erika Santos provided the much-needed spark in PLDT's hard-fought, four-set win over Cignal in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Thursday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The former Arellano star flaunted her all-around wares in her first game in the tournament, finishing with nine points and 21 excellent digs while the rookie opposite spiker from La Salle came through in the clutch, scoring all of her five points in the final stretch of the game-clinching fourth set.
While Prado was at the service line, Santos did the damage above the net as they powered a 9-0 turnaround in the fourth frame which gave them a 23-19 advantage. Santos eventually put on the finishing kick by scoring the team's last two points to come out with a 15-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 win over the HD Spikers.
"Ako kasi pinakikiramdaman ko sila e. Tinitignan ko sa bench, kapag nakikita ko na yung expression nila yung lalaban, so lahat naman sila gustong lumaban kasi nga nakikita nila yung effort ng mga ate nila," said PLDT head coach George Pascua.
This was Prado's first game back after suffering a left ankle sprain before the conference started. For her part, Prado said that she just wanted to help the team in any way possible after being sidelined for the entire elimination round.
"Siguro po sa tagal kong hindi nakapaglaro parang binigay ko na lahat. Bahala na, ilaban ko na, 'yan yung mindset ko ngayon saka magenjoy pa rin. Ayun lang, focus pa rin sa game and ayun, whatever happens basta nilaban ko. Ayun nanalo naman," said Prado, who missed a couple of weeks in training due to the injury.
"Nararamdaman ko pa rin yung paa ko pero andoon na ako e, 'di na pwedeng 'di ko ilaban yun kasi ako na yung pinili para mag-laro doon. Wala na, masakit 'man yung paa ko laban pa rin," she added.
Santos, meanwhile, thanked her teammates for trusting her during the crucial stretch of the match.
"Mindset ko siguro yung mga teammates ko po kasi binibigyan po nila ako ng assurance para mag-cover every point, every palo, and every set po na binibigay sakin," said Santos.
"Buo po yung loob ko na pumalo since andyan po yung mga ate ko para mag-cover up sakin."
