EST Cola sweeps Ho Chi Minh, clinches PVL finals

QUEZON CITY — In sports, it is rarely about how you start but how you finish.

EST Cola proved that adage in emphatic fashion Sunday, overcoming an opening-day setback to win its next four matches and become the first team to secure a finals berth in the hotly contested PVL Invitational at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Thais had to summon everything they had to fend off a resilient Ho Chi Minh City side, 25-19, 26-24, 26-24, relying on grit and composure to prevail in pressure-packed finishes in the final two sets.

Despite being swept, the Vietnamese put up a tough fight, particularly in the last two sets, where they rallied from deficits to turn the finishes into nip-and-tuck affairs.

Ho Chi Minh forced three deadlocks in the second set, the last at 24 after Thi Kim Thanh Dang’s sharp crosscourt hit extended the frame.

The Thais answered with a quick attack before Nirarach Srikuta blocked Dang’s attempt to tie the set, giving EST Cola a 2-0 lead.

Ho Chi Minh kept the third set close, forcing an 8-all tie at the first technical timeout and staying within striking distance.

The Vietnamese then battled back from a 19-22 deficit to force another extension behind a quick attack from Thi Nhung Dao and an attack error by Papatchaya Phontham.

EST Cola responded by scoring the final two points behind Nattharika Wasan’s quick hit and Srikuta’s power attack.

Ho Chi Minh struggled with its first-ball reception on the final sequence, allowing EST Cola to set up Srikuta for the clinching point.

The victory gave EST Cola a 4-1 record and the first berth in Tuesday’s winner-take-all championship match.

The Thais could then watch the remaining contenders battle for the second finals spot.

Creamline, which had swept its first three assignments before falling to EST Cola in four sets Friday, was facing defending champion PLDT at presstime.

PLDT had revived its finals hopes by beating Farm Fresh on Friday and entered its final elimination-round match with a 2-2 record.

Nxled earlier improved to 3-2 after defeating Farm Fresh, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, leaving its finals fate dependent on the remaining results.

EST Cola controlled the 90-minute match against Ho Chi Minh through its frontline play, outscoring the Vietnamese in attacks, 52-34, and blocks, 10-4.

The Thais overcame 22 unforced errors that gave Ho Chi Minh free points, compared with only seven error points surrendered by the Vietnamese.

Phontham again spearheaded EST Cola with a match-high 21 points, including 19 attacks, while Nannaphat Moonjakham and Srikuta added 18 and 12, respectively.

Skipper Thi Kim Thanh Dang led Ho Chi Minh with 14 points, while Thi Nhu Phuong Nguyen chipped in nine.

Young standout Thi Bich Diep Dao was held to seven points after scoring 13 against Nxled on Friday, while Thi My Xuyen Le finished with six.

What made the Thais’ breakthrough more remarkable was the young core behind it, with several players forming part of Thailand’s under-21 setup.

EST Cola opened the tournament with a four-set loss to defending champion PLDT, a result that initially left the guest team on the fringes of the championship picture.

The Thais quickly changed that narrative.

EST Cola bounced back with a straight-set victory over Farm Fresh before surviving Nxled in a grueling five-set battle.

The Thais then stunned Creamline, 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25, behind Phontham’s 27-point performance to move within one victory of the finals.

EST Cola completed the turnaround Sunday by sweeping fellow guest team Ho Chi Minh and extending its winning streak to four matches.

The Thai squad also became only the fourth foreign guest team to reach a PVL championship match.

After stumbling on opening day, EST Cola finished the elimination round on top with a 4-1 record and a shot at the PVL Invitational crown.