V-League: Air Force bags semis playoff, survives NU

Judy Caballejo with a hit against two defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Philippine Air Force secured at least a playoff for a semifinal spot in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference after a five-set thriller against National University, 23-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8, Wednesday at San Juan Arena.

It was an erroneous error that doomed the Lady Bulldogs as the Air Spikers took the second seed with a 4-1 record while NU dropped to no. 4 with a 2-3 record.

PAF is at a tie with Bali Pure despite having identical 4-1 records by virtue of winning matches by fewer sets.

Air Spikers head coach Jasper Jimenez said he let his starters reflect on what happened in the disastrous third set where the young Lady Bulldogs grounded them.

“Ginawa ko ginamit ko mga second stringer ko then pinataas morale nila, lumaban naman kahit papaano kaya lang malayo talaga,” said Jimenez. “Nakapag isip isip first stingers ko kaya pagdating ng fourth set umarankada kami.”

Iari Yongco, Yna Papa, and Jennifer Manzano all played the bulk of the third set.

Manzano, though, carried her momentum until the fifth set to help close out the match for the Air Spikers.

It was in the fifth set when the Air Spikers really took the fight out of the Lady Bulldogs as they started the period with a 10-2 run.

Judy Caballejo and Joy Cases led PAF with 16 and 14 points, respectively, while Jocemer Tapic added eight.

Jaja Santiago had 20 points to lead NU while Risa Sato and Audrey Paran contributed 12 points apiece.