By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros ICC Blue Hawks clinched their fifth consecutive win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) league with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 sweep of the Marikina Lady Shoemasters at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Setter Charlotte Tutanes stepped up anew with her impressive ball distribution with 21 excellent sets to go with five points to be named Player of the Game for the Blue Hawks.

According to Tutanes, the Blue Hawks are still not content with their first-round performance, as they aim to improve their service and reception in the second round of eliminations.

“No mercy na po inside the court, kasi final game na namin sa [first round of] eliminations. Hindi namin ina-underestimate ‘yung kalaban namin kahit na nasa taas na kami ng standings,” Tutanes said.

“Sa second round naman, we want to maintain ‘yung consistency namin inside the court — mag-start from the basics. Madami pa din kaming mga errors, especially in service and reception,” she added.

The Blue Hawks occupy the No. 1 spot in the standings with a 6-1 win-loss record, while the Lady Shoemasters failed to score a follow-up victory as they dropped to a 3-4 record.

Meanwhile, the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers defended their home court with a 25-12, 25-19, 27-25 sweep of the Nasipit Lady Spikers-Agusan del Norte.

Johna Dolorito was in attack mode for the Golden Coolers against the Lady Spikers as she tallied 22 points, all coming from the attack department, to earn the Player of the Game honors.

After handily winning the first two sets, the Golden Coolers were pushed to the limit by the Lady Spikers in the third set, but timely hits from Dolorito and her teammates saved them from another extended match.

“Umiral ‘yung willingness namin na ma-end na ‘yung set talaga, and ayaw na din naming ma-extend ‘yung laban kasi ‘yung previous game namin is a five-setter,” Dolorito said pertaining to their five-set win over the Caloocan AM Spikers last week./ASC, WDJ