EST Cola and Farm Fresh turned their battle for a shot at the Premier Volleyball League Invitational 2024 bronze medal into a thrilling showdown that felt like a championship clash with the former emerging victorious in a nerve-wracking five-set marathon.
The young Thai squad dug deep to overcome a 1-2 set deficit and showed grit in a tense fifth set, which featured 11 deadlocks and three lead changes. Despite trailing for most of the final frame, EST Cola found a way to clinch a dramatic 22-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 17-15 win at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Monday night.
The deciding set was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Farm Fresh’s Foxies leading for the majority of the frame. However, EST Cola refused to back down, spearheaded by the unstoppable Warisara Seetaloed.
Seetaloed delivered a match-high 33-point explosion, including 29 powerful attacks from all angles of the court. Her relentless performance kept EST Cola in the fight, even when they faced a match point at 13-14.
A crucial off-the-block hit from Natthawan Phatthaisong tied the set at 14, forcing the 10th deadlock. Phatthaisong’s timely kill gave EST Cola its second lead of the set at 15-14, but Farm Fresh’s Asaka Tamaru responded with a backrow attack to level the score once again.
In the pivotal moments, a tight exchange saw Nattharika Wasan’s block on Tamaru give EST Cola another match point at 16-15. With the pressure mounting, Phatthaisong delivered a sneaky serve that the Foxies failed to handle, sealing the match for EST Cola and sparking celebrations from the Thai bench.
“I’m very, very happy for this first win,” said Seetaleod, through an interpreter. Her all-around brilliance powered the Thai squad to their first victory of the tournament.
EST Cola thus closed out its campaign with a 1-3 record, keeping its slim hopes alive for a bronze medal finish.
Phatthaisong backed Seetaloed with 18 points, Wasan finished with 10 markers and Sasithorn Jatta and Tanyaporn Seeso contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Farm Fresh suffered its third consecutive loss, further dampening its chances for a podium finish, with a challenging match against Creamline looming on Wednesday.
The two-hour, 20-minute match marked the first encounter of the tournament to go the distance, and the extended fifth set reflected the tenacity and determination of both teams.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Foxies, who appeared poised to contend for third-place honors after securing a 2-1 set advantage. However, a shaky performance in the fourth frame allowed EST Cola to level the match.
Despite gaining the upper hand in the fifth set, the Foxies faltered when the pressure mounted, giving the Thais an opening to complete their stunning comeback.
Tamaru led the charge with 19 points, while Aprylle Tagsip and Alyssa Bertolano impressed with 18 and 14 points, respectively. Caitlyn Viray and Rizza Cruz also contributed with eight points each for the Foxies.
