MANILA—The Pag-IBIG Fund Lady Smashers displayed nerves of steel at the Paco Arena in Manila yesterday, outlasting the DFA Emissaries in a must-win five-set marathon. 

Pag-IBIG appeared to be on the fast track to a sweep after dominating the opening frames 25–17 and 25–18. 

However, the Emissaries refused to go quietly, orchestrating a relentless late-game surge to snatch the third and fourth sets, 28–26 and 25–19, forcing a decisive fifth-set showdown.

Refusing to let their early lead go to waste, the Lady Smashers regained their composure in the final frame. 

Pag-IBIG’s disciplined defense and sharp execution allowed them to pull away and clinch the set 15–12, officially securing their second victory of the season. 

The win marks a significant momentum builder for the squad, proving their ability to withstand pressure when pushed to the limit by a resilient opponent.

Carrie Pronuevo earned Best Player of the Game honors after a stellar all-around performance, racking up 23 points highlighted by 16 attacks, 5 blocks, and 2 aces. 

In a post-game interview, Pronuevo credited their steadiness to a return to fundamentals. “Ang sinabi po ng coaches po namin is back to basic tayo," Pronuevo shared. "Kung ano yung ginagawa namin sa training, ayon po yung ia-apply namin sa game na yon.”