PSL: PLDT upsets Army; Cagayan dispatches RC Cola

MANILA, Philippines — The PLDT myDSL Speed Boosters were the orchestrators of a massive upset against last conference’s champions TMS-Army Lady Troopers on Wednesday, November 20, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Speed Boosters masterfully kept the Army at bay for three straight sets, 25-13, 25-20, 25-22, by relying on their fluid offense.

The Army, which had been struggling in the early goings of their previous two matches against RC Cola and Cagayan Valley, found themselves in the same boat once again as PLDT banked on two massive spurts to claim the first set. This time, the Lady Troopers never recovered from their slow start and muffed the next two sets to drop 2-1 in the standings. PLDT improved to 2-0. 

The second game saw the Cagayan Valley Lady Rising Suns dispatching the RC Cola Raiders via a 4-set victory, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-12, to keep them winless in two outings.

Thai import Wanida Kotruang once again carried her team with another explosive performance spiked by 23 points. But this time around, she had plenty of help with fellow import Patcharee Saengmuang also chipping in 12 points to their cause, including points in pivotal runs of the match.

The Raiders took advantage of Cagayan’s rough start and slipped past the Rising Suns in a close first set finish, 23-25. But the locals of Cagayan provided more firepower and steady execution in the ensuing three sets to ensure the win. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas was also on a scoring spree with 13 points.

Finally, in men’s action, the Systema Tooth and Gum Care Smashers lived up to their moniker and smashed their way to their first triumph by trouncing the Maybank Tigers in a 5-set thriller, 25-21, 24-26, 17-25, 25-17, and 15-7.

Errors marred both teams to start the match, but Systema played with composure and resiliency during the fourth set, to stay alive after losing the second and third sets.

By the time the fifth set rolled around, momentum was already with Systema and the Maybank Tigers did not even come close, coming up to only 7 points. –Rappler.com