Pocari Sweat joins forces with Air Force for 2018 campaign

Two bitter rivals connive for the upcoming season

Storied volleyball franchises Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors and Philippine Air Force Lady Jet Spikers have agreed to link up for the upcoming 2018 Premier Volleyball League season. The development was confirmed to Tiebreaker Times by outgoing Pocari Sweat team manager Ken Mirasol, Tuesday evening.

“We decided to forge a partnership with Air Force for the upcoming season,” said Mirasol over dinner.

For the upcoming Reinforced Conference that is set to begin in April 2018, Pocari Sweat will retain star spiker Myla Pablo, Jeanette Panaga, and Elaine Kasilag. Joining them are the Philippine Air Force core of Iari Yongco, Wendy Semana, Joy Cases, Jocemer Tapic, and towering blocker Dell Palomata.

The team is still searching for a libero, as multiple time V-League best libero Melissa Gohing is set to sign with Rebisco.

Pocari Sweat head coach Rico de Guzman will take over for Mirasol as team manager, while Jasper Jimenez will call the shots on the sidelines.

The Lady Warriors and the Lady Jet Spikers have had a rivalry in the V-League.

The two teams met during the Finals of the 2016 Open Conference with Pocari Sweat grinding out a 2-1 series win.

A year later, the two squads followed it up with an epic semifinals series in the 2017 Open Conference that saw Pocari Sweat again rally back from a 0-1 series deficit to advance to the Finals. The Lady Warriors lost to Bali Pure in two games in the finale.