BY ABBY TORALBA
KINGWHALE Taipei stunned PLDT, scoring a thrilling 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13 decision yesterday in the PVL Invitational Conference semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Beatriz Flavio Carvalho starred for KingWhale anew with 19 points and 19 digs, while Li Jun Chen scored 13 markers.
Chieh Chen and Qin Yao Tsai also contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, while team captain Yi Jen Liao tossed 36 excellent sets for KingWhale which blanked Army Black Mamba 26-24, 25-18, 26-24 last Monday.
The Taiwanese squad, the lone foreign guest team in the conference, boosted its chances to advance in the gold medal match with 2-0 card.
The High Speed Hitters came off a 25-22, 27-25, 21-25, 19-25, 12-15 loss to Creamline last Saturday and fell to 2-2.
“They (PLDT) were very strong and motivated,” KingWhale coach Yen-Min Teng said through an interpreter.
“Today’s game made us (gain) little learning and taught us many things. Their coach is very smart,” he added.
KingWhale shrugged off a 4-7 start in the decider and took the lead 14-12 before a service error from PLDT middle blocker Mika Reyes sealed KingWhale’s gutsy triumph.
Dell Palomata and Mika Reyes paced the High Speed Hitters with 19 points, while Reyes had 17 markers.
Jules Samonte, Jovy Prado and Toni Rose Basas also contributed 16, 11, and 10 points, respectively for PLDT.
