Photo from Spikers’ Turf Facebook account
Power hitter Rodolfo Labrador doesn’t have to force the issue and Air Force can still come out victorious.
The league’s leading scorer took the back seat and let his teammates grab the spotlight in another win by Air Force, 26-24, 25-22, 25-20, at Sta. Elena’s expense Wednesday for a sure semifinal seat in the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Reinforced Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Ruben Inaudito smashed hard with 14 hits while Fuentes, who deflected a couple of momentum-shifting attacks from the Active Smashers, added 11 points, nine of them sharp spikes that found the open spaces.
“We’re more aggressive on our attacking game. It simply put them off balance,” said Air Force coach Rhovyl Verayo.
The Air Spikers posted their fourth straight win and will go for a sweep in the six-team tourney on Sunday against the PLDT Home Ultera Ultrafast Spikers.
Labrador, known for his tenacity and efficiency, contributed nine points together with Jeffrey Malabanan.
They formed a vicious quartet with Inaudito and Fuentes as Air Force showed its resolve to reach the finals after a semifinal finish in the open conference early this year.
Dropping their third game in four outings, the Active Smashers got 11 hits from Joven Camaganakan.
Mark Gil Alfafara pulled the Ultra Fast Hitters out of a hole with a 22-25, 27-29, 25-14 win over the Philippine Navy Sailors.
Alfafara walloped the Sailors with 15 attacks and had one block and a service ace as the Fast Hitters picked up their second victory after four games.
The Sailors’ record dropped to 1-2.