SAN JUAN – The PNP Lady Patrollers showed their championship is still strong, surviving a grueling five-set clash against the AFP Lady Gunnar, 3-2, to kick off UVL Season 4 on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. 

In a back-and-forth match that lived up to the hype, the Lady Patrollers displayed superior late-game composure to withstand the Lady Gunnar’s relentless offense. 

After trading sets through the first four frames, PNP turned up the heat in the decider, relying on disciplined defense and timely transition plays to secure the 15-10 clincher and claim the first big win of the season.

Best player of the game was Patrolwoman and PNP Lady Patrollers’ outside hitter Yam Porio, who scored 17 points on 16 attacks with 1 ace. 

“Huwag po namin isipin na defending champion kami at isipin pa rin po namin na kami’y mga challenger pa rin po,” Porio said in a post-game interview.

The high-stakes atmosphere in San Juan saw both powerhouse teams struggle for momentum, with the Lady Gunnar taking the second and third sets to put the defending champs on the ropes. 

However, the Lady Patrollers refused to back down, dominating the fourth set, 25-17, to force the tiebreaker. 

Set scores highlighted the neck-and-neck rivalry: 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 25-17, and 15-10. 

This victory sets a strong tone for the PNP as they begin their campaign for another title in the league dedicated to sports and charity.