FILE PHOTO – Bali Pure Water Defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Bali Pure made quick work of Pocari Sweat, taking a three-set win, 25-21, 25-16, 25-23, to cap off its elimination round campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Water Defenders locked up the fourth seed with a 4-3 record and, in the process, eliminated BanKo Perlas off the top four while the Lady Warriors, who are also semis-bound, finished the preliminaries with a 5-2 record.
Bali Pure was on the receiving end of a freebie when Myla Pablo’s hit went long and that proved to be the last play of the elimination stages.
“This is a no-pressure game for both sides because if we lose we still have a playoff against BanKo Perlas and Pocari’s standing won’t even budge,” said Bali Pure head coach Roger Gorayeb in Filipino.
“But, we still won and I’m thankful to my players because I called their attention after we played poorly the past few games.”
The Water Defenders suffered back-to-back losses before reestablishing themselves against Adamson University in their penultimate elimination game and those two setbacks deeply hampered Bali Pure’s momentum in the middle of the preliminaries.
Jerrili Malabanan had a game-high 14 points to lead the Water Defenders while Grethcel Soltones and Risa Sato added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Jeanette Panaga and Pablo had 10 points apiece to lead the Lady Warriors.