Jockeying for an outright spot in the Final Four race, the PacificTown-Army Lady Troopers ran roughshod over the BanKo Perlas Spikers, 25-18, 25-14, 25-20, in the PVL Reinforced Conference Season 3, Saturday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Troopers closed out the preliminary round with an even 5-5 win-loss record. They also joined Petro Gazz and Creamline in the semifinals after solidifying their hold of the third spot.
Holding a 1-0 set advantage, PacificTown-Army carried their momentum in the second set. From a slim 8-7 lead, the Lady Troopers widened the gap to a 23-14 spread. Jenelle Jordan then put her team at set point before Ging Balse-Pabayo delivered the set-clincher.
Another back-and-forth swing occurred in the third set, as PacificTown-Army led by a solitary point, 16-15. Behind Olena Lymareva-Flink, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Jordan, the Lady Troopers created crucial separation with a 22-17 cushion to douse the Perlas Spikers.
“This is our A game. Almost fluid yung galaw, maganda ‘yung service at first ball. May mga lapses pero nakakaatake ‘yung [spikers] namin especially Olena,” PacificTown-Army head coach Kungfu Reyes said.
Ukranian reinforcement Lymareva-Flink did the heavy lifting after exploding for 29 points built on 23 spikes and six aces. Her fellow import Jordan supplied 11 points from seven spikes, three blocks, and an ace.
Gonzaga, who has played four games in the last five days, had four points and 13 excellent digs. Angela Nunag protected the floor with 12 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
Meanwhile, the Perlas Spikers dropped to the fourth spot with a 4-6 slate.
No Perlas Spiker barged into twin-digit territory as Sutadta Chuewulim supplemented eight markers, all coming from attacks. Gervacio had eight as well spiked by three blocks and two aces.
BanKo skipper Nicole Tiamzon only managed five points as her team dropped to the fourth spot with a 4-6 slate.
If Motolite score a win over league-leaders Petro Gazz later in the day, a battle for fourth will ensue between BanKo and Motolite on Sunday. On the other hand, a loss will automatically punch the Perlas Spikers’ tickets to the semifinals.
Third-seed PacificTown-Army do not yet know their opponents in the best-of-three semifinals on Wednesday. If both Petro Gazz and Creamline win their matches later in the day, the Lady Troopers will take on the defending champions. In case Creamline win and Petro Gazz lose, they will be pitted against the Angels.
