Black Mamba Army battled back a resilient BaliPure, 25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 26-24, on Tuesday night in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PVC Socio-Civic & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Still reeling from a four-set loss to the PetroGazz Angels over the weekend, the Lady Troopers buckled down to work and banked on Royse Tubino to even their win-loss record at 1-1.
Tubino stepped up in the offensive crunch by erupting for 17 kills apart from two aces to finish with 19 points.
Despite the victory, Army coach Kungfu Reyes still expects more intensity from his stalwarts in future matches.
“Luckily nanalo, pero yung laro medyo malayo pa dun sa hinihingi namin na performance,” said Reyes.
Skipper Jovelyn Gonzaga also shone for the Lady Troopers with 13 points built on nine attacks and three aces, while Ging Balse-Pabayo added nine points.
Army exploited BaliPure’s erratic plays by getting 33 points from those errors.
The Water Defenders absorbed their first loss in the conference despite the efforts of Grazielle Bombita, Bernadette Flora and Genevieve Casugod, who combined for 45 points.