A mad dash for the last semifinal spot is what Foton and Generika-Ayala are gearing up for on Thursday as they clash with separate rivals in the Belo-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Between the two, the Tornadoes have a much clearer path to the next round as they take on the winless Sta. Lucia Realtors.
The Lifesavers will have the unbeaten Petron Blaze Spikers standing in their way to the next round.
Petron coach Shaq delos Santos, whose charges have won four straight, said they’re not really gunning for a sweep of the classification round as they want to develop cohesion—now that they have already been assured of a semifinal berth.
Petron is setting its sight on the crown and could use its remaining games as preparation for its title march.
“It’s still a long way to go; we don’t want to be distracted by thinking of a sweep because our goal is more than [just a] sweep,” said Delos Santos.
Foton will be powered by the likes of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jen Reyes, Maika Ortiz and NCAA Most Valuable Player Grethcel Soltones.
The top three teams after the single-round eliminations make the semifinals along with Japan’s Kobe Shinwa.
The Japanese will arrive on March 28 in time for the final round, whose champion will be determined by won matches and points.