Jet Spikers in Final 4; Lady maroons avoid cellar

Air Force formally landed in the semifinals after drubbing Adamson-Akari, 25-22, 25-16, 25-21, on Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

At 5-2, the Jet Spikers joined Creamline and Pocari Sweat to the next round with the last spot to be disputed by BaliPure and Perlas-BanKo, which will take on separate foes Sunday.

Earlier, University of the Philippines salvaged a measure of pride by outlasting Power Smashers, 25-17, 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11.

Diane Carlos scored 23 points while Isa Molde contributed 18 for the Lady Maroons, who avoided eighth and last place by winning for the second time in seven matches.

“Coach (Jerry Yee) said we need to minimize our errors and at the same time take good first balls if we want to win this one,” said Carlos.

They indeed had better first-ball reception, allowing Rosemary Cailing and Cynthia Escutin to set up attacks for UP’s spikers.

After trailing two sets to one, the Lady Maroons fought back in the fourth frame, rising to 17-7 on a cross-court hit by Molde.

Andrea Marzan and Regina Arocha tried to shoulder the load for Power Smashers but the squad was already too deep in a rut to catch up.
In men’s play, Air Force foiled newcomer Mega Builders’ sweep bid, pulling off a 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 26-28, 15-12 victory to close out its elimination campaign at 5-2.

The Jet Spikers finished at No. 3 with the Volley Bolt (6-1) gaining top seeding in the Final Four. Cignal TV (5-1) will be at No. 2 even if it loses to Instituto Estetico Manila on Sunday.