Santiago sizzles for Blaze Spikers
Aleona Denise Santiago showed why she’s the top rookie draft pick as she almost single-handedly carried Petron to a rousing 25-27, 25-23, 19-25, 24-26, 15-10 win over PLDT Home TVolution in the 2014 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The 20-year-old center attacker toyed with the PLDT defense to finish with 37 points, 36 of which are kills that the Power Attackers failed to stop at the net.
"My teammates have all long faces so I reminded them to just enjoy the game and relax. We need to work as a team for us to win,” said Santiago in Filipino, who also had one block. “Coach [George Pascua] told me to just remain focused and think nothing else but this game."
"Dindin [Santiago] showed why she’s the first-round draft pick. All our offensive plays were designed for her because of her height advantage and skills,” said Pascua after the match.
The Power Attackers and Blaze Spikers, both making their debut in the Sports Core-organized first conference, seemed to experience opening game jitters that resulted in them splitting the first two sets.
PLDT played more solidly in the third with Suzanne Roces and Laurence Ann Latigay alternating to score the points to zoom to an 11-3 edge, a lead that they protected despite Santiago keeping the fight alive for
Petron.
Santiago made five straight kills to bring the Blaze Spikers within five, 22-17, but Roces' down-the-line hit plus an Angela Benting attack and a drop shot by setter Rubie de Leon moved the Power Attackers within one set of clinching the win.
Petron, however, won’t go down that easily with Carmina Aganon exploding in the fourth to support Santiago’s game-long brilliance.
Santiago, after a service error by teammate Luisa Mae Zapanta, scored on a running hit to push Petron up, 15-13. The Blaze Spikers then scored the next three points off an Aganon block, Santiago’s kill, and an ace by Maica Morada.
Latigay and Roces, however, kept PLDT afloat as they rallied the Power Attackers to tie the match at 24 as Petron made crucial errors down the stretch.
But a Santiago backline attack and another ace by Morada sealed Petron’s victory in the fourth frame sending the match into a deciding set.
Santiago and Aganon were unstoppable after that as the former National University standouts piled up the points in the fifth with the former ending the match with a kill of two blockers.
Aganon finished with 16 points with four blocks and two aces to provide scoring support to Santiago.
Roces paced PLDT’s losing cause with 21 attacks while Latigay added 19.
The 20-year-old center attacker toyed with the PLDT defense to finish with 37 points, 36 of which are kills that the Power Attackers failed to stop at the net.
"My teammates have all long faces so I reminded them to just enjoy the game and relax. We need to work as a team for us to win,” said Santiago in Filipino, who also had one block. “Coach [George Pascua] told me to just remain focused and think nothing else but this game."
"Dindin [Santiago] showed why she’s the first-round draft pick. All our offensive plays were designed for her because of her height advantage and skills,” said Pascua after the match.
The Power Attackers and Blaze Spikers, both making their debut in the Sports Core-organized first conference, seemed to experience opening game jitters that resulted in them splitting the first two sets.
PLDT played more solidly in the third with Suzanne Roces and Laurence Ann Latigay alternating to score the points to zoom to an 11-3 edge, a lead that they protected despite Santiago keeping the fight alive for
Petron.
Santiago made five straight kills to bring the Blaze Spikers within five, 22-17, but Roces' down-the-line hit plus an Angela Benting attack and a drop shot by setter Rubie de Leon moved the Power Attackers within one set of clinching the win.
Petron, however, won’t go down that easily with Carmina Aganon exploding in the fourth to support Santiago’s game-long brilliance.
Santiago, after a service error by teammate Luisa Mae Zapanta, scored on a running hit to push Petron up, 15-13. The Blaze Spikers then scored the next three points off an Aganon block, Santiago’s kill, and an ace by Maica Morada.
Latigay and Roces, however, kept PLDT afloat as they rallied the Power Attackers to tie the match at 24 as Petron made crucial errors down the stretch.
But a Santiago backline attack and another ace by Morada sealed Petron’s victory in the fourth frame sending the match into a deciding set.
Santiago and Aganon were unstoppable after that as the former National University standouts piled up the points in the fifth with the former ending the match with a kill of two blockers.
Aganon finished with 16 points with four blocks and two aces to provide scoring support to Santiago.
Roces paced PLDT’s losing cause with 21 attacks while Latigay added 19.
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