After four back-and-forth sets, the Air Force Jet Spikers blitzed the Cignal HD Spikers in a decider and took Game One of the PVL Reinforced Conference Finals, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 30-28, 15-8, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Exchanging deft plays in a long deuce, the Jet Spikers steadied their wills and stayed focused in the fourth set to force a fifth set.
“Talagang hintayan lang ng breaks and kung sino ‘yung may gusto manalo noong fourth set na ‘yun,” said Air Force head coach Rhovyl Verayo.
Air Force finally got their bearings in the final frame, leaning on Ranran Abdilla and their sturdy blocking to build an insurmountable 9-2 lead.
“Naging specific lang kami sa instruction sa kanila. Mabuti, na-execute namin,” added Veryao.
Bryan Bagunas led the Jet Spikers with 25 points, while Abdilla finished with 22.
Marck Espejo topped the HD Spikers witb 27 markers off 24 attacks and three blocks. Captaim Ysay Marasigan managed 15 points.
Game Two will be on Wednesday at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the Vice Co. Blockbusters stepped closer to bronze after outlasting the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters, 17-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-23, early Sunday morning.
PLDT helped Vice Co., giving up 35 errors to PLDT’s 20. Middle blocker JP Bugaoan led the blockbusters with 11 points.
The Scores
Air Force (3) – Bagunas 25, Abdilla 22, Ismail 11, Fuentes 9, Malabanan 9, De Ocampo 4, Labrador 0, Lopez 0, Tolentino 0, Marcos (L)
Cignal HD (2) – Espejo 27, Marasigan 15, Intal 10, Miguel 8, Torres 6, Polvorosa 3, Bonono 2, Mangulabnan 0, Sto. Tomas 0, Montero (L)
