Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Pocari Sweat is first into the finals and is ready to take on anybody.
Stretched to its limits by the intrepid University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, the Lady Warriors escaped with a 25-17, 24-26, 26-24, 25-27, 15-8 win Monday to sweep their best-of-three semifinals in the Shakey’s
V-League Reinforced Conference at Philsports Arena.
“We are ready [for the finals] and maybe that’s the reason we overlooked UST,” said coach Pocari coach Rommel Abella, admitting they were already sizing up either BaliPure and Bureau of Customs as finals foe.
Customs extended its final Four series with BaliPure after hacking out a 25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 25-17 win in the second game. They clash at 6 p.m. Wednesday to determine Pocari’s opponent.
Earlier, Cignal repeated over Champion Supra, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20, to seal a title clash with Air Force in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Third Conference.
Pocari almost paid dearly for looking too far ahead as the import-less UST side saved two match points in the fourth set to force a deciding frame.
“They really made us work very hard,” said Pocari Sweat team captain Michele Gumabao.
Gumabao, skipper of the Open Conference champion Lady Warriors, made eight points while import Breanna Mackie had 35 points.
Myla Pablo added 11, Iris Tolenada eight and Andrea Kacsits seven for Pocari.
EJ Laure unloaded 24 points for UST which, according to Abella, “is more than ready for the [coming] UAAP [season].”
Abella is also a member of UST’s coaching staff in the collegiate league.