LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Roselyn Suhat returned to action Sunday and led Kapangan to a four-set victory over Tuba in Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup – Benguet Women’s Volleyball League at the Benguet Sports Complex here.
Suhat fired 13 points on nine attack points, an ace and three blocks to power Kapangan in the 25-20, 25-17, 9-25, 25-17 victory over Tuba.
This as Jeremae Bulcio made her debut as she added nine points in the 74 minutes of action where Tuba was expected to complete a three-set romp after taking the first two sets.
“The morale was high, but then we relaxed allowing Tuba to take the third set,” said setter and captain Edralyn Mangantulao as she took over the coaching chore with the absence of coach Danilo Edwardo, who attended to a personal business in Itogon.
“The third was really disappointing and we lost and failed even to make it a double-digit score for us,” added Mangantulao, who got 11 points from Victoria Balabag, eight from Lovely Joy Balagat and seven from Dezsaera Monang.
It was a tough grind from Kapangan in the first set as Tuba came prepared against one of the tougher teams in league. Tuba even took a 10-8 lead in the first set only to see it vanish when Kapangan’s original starting six unleashed their firepower with Suhat blocking Tuba’s hitters including Mary Ann Atuban.
In the third set, Atuban was properly set by Ivy Sampayan as the former University of Baguio outside hitter imposed her will with booming kills, while Shania Faye Pronton made her return after missing several games with drop shots that found no answer.
In the fourth set, Kapangan raced to a 12-3 lead and even stretched this to an 18-7 advantage, thans to libero Phoebe Aludos who was able to dig Atuban’s spikes. But Tuba came to within two, 16-18 after a 9-0, but Bulcio scored four straight points to move within three points of finishing the game. A 3-1 final run saw Kapangan end the match.
Edwardo said that Bulcio played for the first time after completing her internship as a criminology student. “She was not allowed to play, or have her name or face posted on social media or any form of media,” said Edwardo of the Baguio City National High School where she played for the school’s varsity team.
“And Suhat is really vital for our team, but then she can not play at times,” added the former King’s College of the Philippines coach and athletic director.
The win cemented Kapangan’s third place finish as they improve to a 7-1 (win-loss) card. Kapangan is yet to face Mankayan on Sunday and Bakun on January 15. Then it will be a tough two game to conclude the eliminations for Kapangan with Buguias and favorite Sablan as their last assignments.
Atuban led all scorers with 17 markers on 11 attack points, two aces and four blocks, while Pronton added 10 markers on six attack points and four blocks. Tuba, fell to 5-3 for the fourth spot ahead of Tublay, which has the same card but carries the advantage due to its five set victory over the latter.
Tuba has yet to face Atok, Mankayan and Bakun before facing Itogon (4-4), which is expected to finish not higher than fifth place. CEGYCC Release
