BaliPure rises

BaliPure finally got the hang of playing with its foreign players and Air Force bore the brunt of it, 25-22, 25-19, 25-21, last night in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference at Philsports Arena.

More than anything, BaliPure has regained its pride after dropping its first game.

“We are slowly jelling as a team and finally put our opening game behind us,” said import Katherine Morrell who scored 19 points including 17 kills. “I think it’s our defense that helped us tonight.”

The Water Defenders are now on a two-game winning run after a first-day defeat at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses.

BaliPure has since found its range, picking up a second successive straight-sets win while handing the Jet Spikers their third loss in four games.

Dzi Gervacio scored nine points—eight on attacks—to boost the Water Defenders, who also got a combined output of 18 points from Amy Ahomiro, import Kaylee Manns, Mae Tajima and Suzanne Roces.

Jocemer Tapic tried to lift Air Force with 10 points, while Joy Cases and Angel Mae Antipuesto added nine and seven, respectively.

But the Jet Spikers failed to take off as they found no antidote against the Water Defenders’ offense.

Later, University of the Philippines outlasted Laoag, 25-20, 27-25, 11-25, 25-20, to keep its semifinal hopes alive.

The Lady Maroons remained fifth with a 2-3 card and would need to sweep their last two games against BaliPure and Air Force.
They must also hope that three from Pocari, BaliPure, Air Force and Laoag won’t go over four wins to force a playoff for the last semifinal berth.
Laoag dropped to 2-2.

Meanwhile, Champion Supra downed 100 Plus, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, in a duel of winless teams to stay in the mix in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Third Conference.