Pocari wrests 1st semis slot

FILE – Pocari Sweat celebrates win against National University. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

EVEN minus its standout hitters, Pocari Sweat rolled past Team Baguio, 25-18, 25-17, 25-15, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Pocari coach Rommel Abella had to sit out top team scorers Michelle Gumabao and Myla Pablo, yet the Lady Warriors still played with much firepower to stay unbeaten in four games.

“I challenged them to step up and they responded,” said Abella.

Gumabao got sidelined due to abdominal pain, while Pablo sustained a back injury.

But the Lady Warriors showed no signs of their misfortune as Rossan Fajardo, Maricar Nepomuceno and Elaine Kasilag came through to power the Lady Warriors to a straight-sets victory over the winless Summer Spikers.

Another trio took charge in men’s action as Ismail Fauzi, Jeffrey Malabanan and Rodolfo Labrador delivered to lift Air Force to a 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 blasting of Bounty Fresh in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Open Conference.

The Jet Spikers, who banked on the combined 36 points of Fauzi, Malabanan and Labrador, improved to 2-1 to boost their semifinal drive.

Abella said he came into the game confident, and true enough, the Lady Warriors peppered the Summer Spikes with attacks, 41-20, with Fajardo and Nepomuceno combining for 18 kills.

“I believe that all our players are capable of filling in the role of anyone absent in the team,” said Abella.

In the second game, Team Laoag pulled off a stunner as the Power Smashers dealt Air Force’s first loss in a 25-14, 25-23, 25-23 decision.

Jovielyn Grace Prado tossed in 19 points to lead the Power Smashers in spoiling the Jet Spikers’ first try at nailing a Final Four slot.

The Jet Spikers slipped to second with a 3-1 slate, while the Power Smashers improved to 2-2.