Bengaluru Torpedoes staged a brilliant comeback to defeat Goa Guardians 15-9, 11-15, 13-15, 17-15, 15-9 in a five-set thriller on the second day of the fourth season of the Prime Volleyball League at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Friday.
Penrose shines for Bengaluru
Jalen Penrose was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round performance in attack and defence. His explosive spikes and timely counterattacks proved decisive in the Torpedoes’ comeback. India’s badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy was also spotted courtside, cheering for Bengaluru.
Guardians fight back strongly
The Torpedoes began brightly as setter Sethu troubled Goa’s libero Ramanathan with his precise serves, while Matt West kept Bengaluru’s attack flowing through Penrose and Joel Benjamin. But Goa found their rhythm through Chirag’s aggressive play and the experience of Nathaniel Dickinson and Jeffrey Menzel. Back-to-back super points turned the tide in the Guardians’ favour, as Rohit Yadav’s powerful serves and Prince’s strong blocking helped them take a 2-1 lead.
Bengaluru seal the decider
With pressure mounting, Penrose and Nitin Minhas stepped up for Bengaluru. Minhas’ crucial blocks and Penrose’s counterattacks pushed the contest into the deciding set. Joel Benjamin’s sharp left-side attacks, combined with Mujeeb’s defensive work, gave the Torpedoes the edge as they closed out the contest 3-2.
The victory handed Bengaluru their first win of the season and two points, while Goa earned one point for stretching the match into the decider.
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