Pocari dominates Power Smashers, advances to PVL finals

FILE PHOTO – Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Pocari Sweat ended the Power Smashers’ title hopes in the Premier Volleyball League with an emphatic three-set sweep, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21, Thursday at Philsports Arena.

The Lady Warriors advanced to the championship series where they will face Bali Pure while the Power Smashers will duke it out against Creamline for the bronze medal.

Myla Pablo finished things off for the Lady Warriors with an off-the-block kill that bounced off Dimdim Pacres and that eventually sealed Pocari’s third straight finals appearance.

Pocari head coach Rommel Abella is all too familiar with how to deal with finals adversity and he knows that Bali Pure will be there to meet them with everything it’s got.

“Bali Pure is a strong team and I think the edge we have is the championship experience because we’ve been to the finals twice already,” said Abella. “But I don’t think we have the upper hand and these finals series will be a virtual coin toss.”

“Bali Pure is a complete team and they’re peaking at the right time.”

Michelle Strizak, who’s been playing as the Lady Warriors’ lone import up until the finals, had a game-high 19 points while Pablo gave ample support with 17.

Krystal Rivers, Pocari’s other guest player, received her International Transfer Certificate at 6:51 pm, during the match’s second set, and was already in gear to join her teammates.

Abella, though, elected not to put Rivers in.

Hyapa Amporn led the Power Smashers with 15 points.