Air Force shoots down UP

Philippine Air Force encountered a brief turbulence in the first set before cruising to a 29-27, 25-16, 25-22 victory over University of the Philippines Wednesday in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Immediately, top Jet Spiker Iari Yongco dedicated their second win in three games to their colleagues fighting in Marawi for more than a month now.

“We dedicate it to the soldiers in Marawi, we want to show them that we can also fight like them but through volleyball,” said the 6-foot Yongco, who holds the rank of Air Woman First Class.

The Lady Maroons were on even terms in the first frame and had a set point ahead of the Jet Spikers, 25-24, after racing from a 22-24 deficit.

But UP soon fell in a rash of errors, including two successive by main gunner Isa Molde.

“I admire them (Lady Maroons), they played good defense and often when we thought we killed the ball, they kept the ball alive,” said Yongco in Filipino.

Yongco finished with 15 points, while getting a lot of help from Jocemer Tapic, Mary Ann Pantino and Joy Cases, who accounted for 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Diane Carlos wound up with 18 points, while Molde had 15 for UP, which absorbed its third defeat in as many games.

The Jet Spikers imposed themselves with 41 attack points against 38 by the Lady Maroons through brilliant setting from veteran Wendy Semana. But it was in defense that Air Force dominated by coming up with 10 kill-blocks compared to three by UP.

In the second game, Adamson hacked out a breakthrough win at the expense of Power Smashers, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22. It was the Lady Falcons’ first in three matches. The Power Smashers fell to 0-3.