JOVELYN Gonzaga had doubts.
But her trust in her teammate Nene Bautista carried RC Cola-Army A to a 21-18, 18-21, 15-13 stopping of Foton Toplander’s Patty Orendain and Cherry Ann Rondina Sunday at the Mall of Asia Sands in Pasay City.
Gonzaga’s kill shots off Rondina shattered a 13-all deadlock, handing the Lady Troopers the lead en route to winning the women’s crown of the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Beach Volleyball Challenge.
Bautista stood at the net when Rondina finally slammed a placement shot past her and it landed outside the line, giving the Toplanders the crown.
It was Gonzaga’s fourth beach volleyball title since 2013 when she and Fiola Ceballos claimed a three-peat in the Nestea tournament, while playing for Central Philippines University.
“Target namin si Patty (Orendain). Sa third set, si Rondina na, mataas kasi ang percentage ng shots niya,” said Gonzaga.
In the second set, Gonzaga, who is from Sta. Teresa, Guimaras, Iloilo, began doubting herself when Rondina’s kill off her allowed the Toplanders to move ahead, 20-19.
Orendain then scored on an attack to hand them the second set, sending the game into a deciding third, where Gonzaga unleashed her heroics to give the Lady Troopers the win.
Gonzaga’s road to the finals with Bautista was fueled when they got past Petron XCS bets Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Bang Pineda, 21-11, 21-15, in the semis.