Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

News

Air Force downs UP, keeps perfect record


The Air Force Jet Spikers drew closer to securing a semifinals spot after squashing the dazed University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 27-25, 25-19, 25-17 in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

Air Force relinquished an early four-point lead in the first set and allowed UP to a 24-21 lead. But the Jet Spikers managed to take the following three points thanks to quick thinking during long rallies, to tie the set at 24. Needing clutch scorers, Air Force found them in veterans Judy Caballejo and Jocemer Tapic, who notched the consecutive attacks needed to take the set.

The next sets saw a total collapse from the Lady Maroons. Air Force took advantage of UP’s poor passing in the second set and grabbed a 17-9 lead. UP managed to bring the deficit down to two, 18-16, but, after a timeout, Air Force wrested control away through the tremendous play of Dell Palomata.

UP again succumbed to an early 9-4 hole before rallying back to come within one, 15-14, in the third set. Again, the veteran Jet Spikers regained momentum and rattled off one last push behind solid defense. Air Force took an insurmountable 22-16 lead, sealing their third win in a row.

“Talagang pinpraktis namin yun,” said Air Force head coach Jasper Jimenez about his team’s composure when UP rallied back. “Gusto mo lang makita sa kanila na mageexecute sila tapos di sila susuko.”

Jocemer Tapic led all scorers, with 15 points with three coming from blocks and four from aces. Judy Caballejo and Dell Palomata added 14 and 10 markers respectively.

#ReadMore  Ranran Abdilla, Fauzi Ismail power Air Force past returning PLDT

Fifth year middle hitter Kathy Bersola and sophomore Isa Molde each had seven points for the Lady Maroons.

Air Force (3-0) will try to clinch the Final Four berth on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre when they face the Laoag Power Smashers (1-2). UP (0-2) will go for their first win on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre when they take on the Baguio Summer Spikers (0-2).

The Scores:

Air Force (3) – Tapic 15, Caballejo 14, Palomata 10, Cases 8, Pantino 6, Semana 1, Abanto 0, Yongco 0, Manzano 0, Papa 0, Balmaceda (L), Crisostomo (L)

UP (0) – Bersola 7, Molde 7, Carlos 6, Buitre 4, Tiamzon 4, Dorog 3, Gannaban 2, Basarte 2, Cailing 0, Layug 0, Estrañero (L), Gaiser (L)

Written By

Miguel Luis Flores fell face first into sports writing in high sch9l and has never gotten up. He reluctantly stumbled into the volleyball beat when he started with Tiebreaker Times three years ago. Now, he has waded through everything volleyball - from its icky politics to the post-modern art that is Jia Morado's setting.




You May Also Like

News

ILAGAN, ISABELA — Farm Fresh notched its first win in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League On Tour, fending off a late fightback by Choco...

News

MONTALBAN, RIZAL — ZUS Coffee finally broke through the win column of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League On Tour, outlasting Capital1 in a thrilling...

News

MONTALBAN, RIZAL — Veterans Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones refused for Akari to collapse, recovering in time to outlast ZUS Coffee in five sets,...

News

BATANGAS CITY — It took Nxled 14 games to collect just two wins in the previous conference. This weekend alone, they’ve already matched that...

News

BATANGAS CITY — Choco Mucho kicked off its 2025 PVL On Tour campaign with a four-set victory over Galeries Tower, 25-19, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20,...

News

What started as a difficult week for veteran coach Roger Gorayeb has ended on a hopeful and inspiring note. After being relegated as consultant...

News

ZUS Coffee has its sights set on selecting a middle blocker with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie...

News

Three-time second-best middle blocker Nina Ytang, along with senior spikers Joan Monares and Irah Jaboneta, aren’t turning pro just yet. Instead, all three have...

Advertisement