Will break favor BaliPure, Power smashers?
Grethcel Soltones of Bali Pure attempts a spike against two Philippine Air Force blockers. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Top seed BaliPure and No. 2 Power Smashers hope to come out fresh from a weeklong break as they take on Creamline and Pocari Sweat, respectively, at the start of the Premier Volleyball League semifinals Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Water Defenders and the Power Smashers earned their rest after gaining outright semifinal berths following a 1-2 finish in the double round eliminations.
Their Final Four, meanwhile, needed to survive grueling quarterfinal matches marked by five-set thrillers.
Pocari Sweat swept the four-team field while Creamline finished 2-1 as they clinched the last two semifinals slots over Perlas Spikers and Air Force.
But BaliPure enjoys a big psychological edge over Creamline in their best-of-three semis series as the Water Defenders toppled the Cool Smashers their two meetings in the elimination round of the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
The marquee match at 4 p.m. will not only feature the league’s top two local hitters in Grethcel Soltones and Alyssa Valdez, but also a pair of talented imports in Jennifer Keddy and Jaroensri Bualee (BaliPure) and Laura Schaudt and Kuttika Kaewpin.
Valdez emerged the top spiker in the eliminations but BaliPure was the No. 1 attacking team and No. 2 in blocks. The Cool Smashers lorded it over the field in service.
BaliPure coach Roger Gorayeb hopes to also draw the best from setter Jasmine Nabor, Risa Sato, Aiko Urdas and Jorelle Singh. Tai Bundit of Creamline will eye support from Pau Soriano and Ivy Remulla.
The 6:30 p.m. clash between the Power Smashers and the defending champions is also expected to go the full route with both teams splitting their two elimination-round duels.
