PAF, Pocari near semis

Philippine Air Force treaded dangerous route in taking a step closer to the Final Four.

Wasting a two sets to none lead, Air Force struggled to hack out a 25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 17-25, 15-13 win over Power Smashers in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre on Sunday.

The win allowed the Jet Spikers to inch closer to the next round with a 4-1 record, while practically eliminating the Power Smashers who absorbed their fifth defeat in six outings.
Later, defending champion Pocari Sweat tied PAF and also inched closer to the next round after an easy 25-23, 25-14, 25-19 win over Adamson-Akari.

It wasn’t that easy for the Jet Spikers as they let their guards down and allowed Power Smashers to get into their game.

“We really lost our service receives and then our communication and we panicked,” said Iari Yongco, explaining what struck Air Force in the third and fourth frames.

Yongco finished with 12 points, while Joy Cases and May Ann Pantino added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The 6-foot middle blocker accurately described their plight as Power Smashers mounted a comeback in the third set that forced the Jet Spikers to push the alarm buttons.

But instead of putting their acts together, the Jet Spikers struggled even more, losing a 7-2 lead in the fourth and finding themselves in an 8-13 rut amid Dimdim Pacres’ fully loaded serves that prevented Air Force from getting a decent first ball.

Yongco made it 13-16 but that was the closest Air Force could get in the fourth set as the Power Smashers launched an 8-2 binge to extend the match.