Transformers, Lady Warriors duel begins

Pocari Sweat

It’s going to be Pocari Sweat’s championship poise against Customs’ youthful talent and massive fan support when they start their Shakey’s V-League’s Reinforced Conference best-of-three title series today.

Game 1 of the The Lady Warriors-Transformers clash starts at 6 p.m. at Philsports Arena.

Pocari will also lean on a pair of highly-effective imports, a battle-tested local crew, and most of all, the prospect of winning back-to-back titles and dominate the league right on its first season.

“That’s what we’re here for,” said Pocari team captain Michele Gumabao.  “We just don’t want to make it to back-to-back finals, we want back-to-back titles.”

The Lady Warriors also have the luxury of a few days’ rest, having wrapped up the semifinal series against the UST Tigresses earlier than the Transformers did over BaliPure.

“Definitely we are the underdogs,” said Customs coach Sherwin Meneses, totally discounting the fact that he has at his disposal superstar Alyssa Valdez, who can single-handedly inspire the Transformers.

Valdez rallied the Transformers from a 0-1 deficit in the semifinals to snatch the last finals slot over her former team.

“We worked very hard, and when we work very hard, we can accomplish things,” said Valdez. “We are very close. We will get there.”

UST and BaliPure dispute third place in another best-of-three series starting at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, Air Force tries to clinch the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Reinforced Conference crown against Cignal in Game 2 of their title clash.

The Air Spikers outlasted the HD Spikers (23-25, 19-25, 25-19, 27-25, 15-12) in Game 1 last Wednesday.

Also holding a 1-0 edge, Champion attempts to wrap up its series for third against Instituto Estetico Manila.