FILE – Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Breanna Mackie unloaded 21 points to carry Pocari Sweat to a straight-sets win over Laoag, 25-13, 25-20, 26-24, and into the Shakey’s V League Reinforced Conference semifinals Monday night at Philsports Arena.
Mackie imposed her will against the smaller, import-less Power Smashers, pounding 16 of her total output on kills, as the Lady Warriors hiked their tally to 4-1.
They joined idle leaders University of Santo Tomas Tigresses in the next stage.
Except for the last set where Laoag put up a semblance of a fight, it was Pocari all the way.
Laoag leaned on strong hitter Grethcel Soltones who accounted for 10 points, and Jorelle Singh who had nine.
Mackie’s presence was enough to sow fear among the Power Smashers, who attacked for 32 points against the Lady Warriors 40.
Pocari Sweat’s other reinforcement Andrea Kacsits, still still trying to get her form, made just seven.
But it hardly mattered as Elaine Kasilag, Desiree Dadang and Myla Pablo turned in the numbers for the Lady Warriors.
In the second game, University of the Philippines downed Air Force side, 25-16, 25-20, 25-10, to finish its campaign with a 3-4 card.
With the loss, Air Force fell to 2-4 and rendered the semifinal cast complete with UST (5-1), Pocari (4-1), BaliPure (3-1) and Customs (3-2).
“It’s all about my players,” said Pocari Sweat coach Rommel Abella. “They decided the game because they themselves acted on the situation and knew what was right and wrong.”
He was referring to the last set when the Lady Warriors trailed by seven points before waking up from stupor to launch a strong finishing kick.
“We are communicating inside the court and I guess we are improving,” said Mackie.