Bali Pure eyes 5th straight Shakey’s V-League win

Bali Pure Water Defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

BALI Pure coach Charo Soriano is hoping for a more consistent performance from her squad with volleyball star Alyssa Valdez playing her third game today in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference.

“The team is getting better and better now that we’re complete, but there’s still a lot of things that we have to improve on,” said Soriano as the Water Defenders try to formalize their entry in the Final Four.

The Water Defenders go for a fifth straight victory versus also-ran Team Baguio at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Philippine Air Force, tied for second with Bali Pure at 4-1, also guns for a semifinal slot versus another ousted squad in Team Iriga at 6:30 p.m.

Victories by Bali Pure and Air Force will put them in the company of Pocari Sweat (5-0), the unbeaten leader whom both teams will face at the end of their elimination bids.

Even with Valdez finally on deck, the Water Defenders continue to get off slowly before launching a decisive finish with their star-studded crew that also includes two-time NCAA Most Valuable Player Grethcel Soltones.

“We have to keep it very light and very calm inside the court,” said Soriano, who’s also banking on Amy Ahomiro, Dzi Gervacio and Jem Ferrer.

The Jet Spikers, meanwhile, hope to show the same composure just like in their five-sets triumph over National University, 23-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8, behind Judy Ann Caballejo and Joy Cases last week.

Earlier, Navy and Bounty Fresh try to end their winless runs at 1 p.m. in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Open Conference.