Air Force Jet Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
No import? No problem.
Scrambling an all-Filipino crew, Philippine Air Force stunned an American-backed Pocari Sweat, 25-20, 22-25, 25-7, 22-25, 15-12, last night in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference at Philsports Arena.
The Jet Spikers used teamwork and hustle to overcome the odds and exact revenge over the Lady Warriors, who drubbed them in last July’s Open Conference Finals.
“It was a big challenge for us, that’s why we doubled our efforts,” said PAF coach Jasper Jimenez, whose charges lost their league debut against University of Santo Tomas.
Breanna Mackie scored 17 points, while Andrea Kacsits and Michelle Gumabao added 11 points each for Pocari Sweat. But their individual talents weren’t enough when matched against PAF’s cohesive game.
“Their imports are very good,” said Jimenez. “But they still have to jell as a team
because it’s only their first game.”
The Jet Spikers were dominating in several junctures, especially in the third set when they led 8-0 to eventually close at 25-7.
The Lady Warriors tried to come back by winning the fourth and taking an 11-9 lead in the fifth. But Wendy Semana, Joy Cases and May Pantino buckled down to work.
“In the fifth set, whoever blinks, loses, and my instructions was to make sure the serves fall and to hold on to the rallies,” said Jimenez.
After a long exchange, Semana, a veteran but undersized spiker, fired an underhand that dropped to the unguarded backcourt for 11-all, spacing PAF’s finishing kick.
“Wendy does that, she provides brains inside the game,” Jimenez added.