With a clear path to a fourth straight title, the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors displayed splendid form in their straight-set triumph over the Hair Fairy-Air Force Lady Jet Spikers, 25-19, 25-20, 25-27, in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Warriors, according to head coach Sgt. Rico De Guzman, had a strenuous yet productive buildup for their encounter against Air Force. After not being satisfied with his team’s effort for the past few matches, De Guzman was happy with how the Lady Warriors claimed their fifth win.
“Maganda ang rally namin before itong game namin sa PAF. Kahit noong naghahanda pa lang kami para sa Adamson, ang program and mindset ko para kanila is Bali Pure and Air Force. Focus sa first ball talaga kami. Assesment namin is lumabas lahat ng resulta mula sa training,” De Guzman expressed.
“Nakuha nila tinuro ko, lalo na sa floor defense. Ang dami nilang nakuhang bola sa depense. Kapag maganda ang first ball namin, maganda ang play namin.”
After taking the first two sets, the Lady Warriors faced a resilient Air Force in the closeout frame. The Lady Jet Spikers kept within range of the defending champs, eventually forcing a deuce thanks to a Jocemer Tapic swipe. Pocari Sweat maintained control of the deuce by converting their side-out chances. Despite giving up errors, the Lady Warriors finally got their transition opportunity late, allowing Myla Pablo to cap the match with a back-row smash.
Two-time Finals MVP Pablo powered in 19 points to lead all scorers, while Jeanette Panaga and Elaine Kasilag provided 11 points apiece. Despite giving up 29 errors, the Lady Warriors controlled all other scoring skills.
A win against the Bali Pure Water Defenders (3-3) on July 30 can give the Lady Warriors the second seed or even the top seed, depending on the result of the earlier tiffs.
Air Force’s towers Dell Palomata and Iari Yongco led their offense with eight points, apiece.
The Lady Jet Spikers (4-2) need to win against the Akari-Adamson Lady Falcons (1-5) on July 29 to secure a spot in the Final Four.
The Scores
Pocari Sweat (3) – Pablo 19, Kasilag 11, Panaga 11, Nepomuceno 10, Dadang 3, Cayetano 3, Paran 3, Sy 3, Serafica 0, Gohing (L)
Hair Fairy-Air Force (0) – Palomata 8, Yongco 8, Cases 7, Tapic 6, Caballejo 5, Antipuesto 1, Semana 1, Abanto 0, Pantino 0, Balmaceda (L), Crisostomo (L)
