Pocari Sweat, BaliPure start title duel

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

Pocari Sweat’s other import, American Krystal Rivers, finally got the green light to play in their clash with BaliPure Saturday in Game 1 of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference finals at Philsports Arena.

That’s good news for the Lady Warriors—especially when you ask Pocari’s top bomber Myla Pablo.

“She’s going to be a huge help for us,” said Pablo on Filipino. “She’s so powerful and jumps very high. I don’t stand a chance against her [when it comes to hitting].”

And it is going to be a big challenge for BaliPure to contain Pocari’s firepower.

Pocari ousted the Power Smashers in the same three-set fashion Thursday without Rivers in tow.

The 6-foot-1 former University of Alabama standout will replace the injured Edina Selimovic. She arrived in the country last week but had to ride the bench until her International Transfer Certificate arrived Thursday night.

Now she will reinforce Pablo, fellow import Michelle Strizak and role players Cai Nepomuceno, Desiree Dadang, Gyzelle Sy and Melissa Gohing for Pocari, which is eyeing its third straight conference title.

BaliPure, which made the finals for the first time in two years, will rely on imports Jennifer Keddy, Jaroensri Bualee, hitter Grethcel Soltones and Risa Sato.