Pocari Sweat, BaliPure force do-or-die duels
Pocari Sweat poured it all in the fifth set to even things up with Hair Fairy Air Force, 25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12, and forge a sudden-death for a finals berth in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan on Sunday.
The Lady Warriors nearly squandered a 9-5 lead in the decider but leaned on their championship experience to outlast the Lady Jet Spikers.
Jeanetta Panaga and Myla Pablo delivered in the clutch, combining for the last six points of the Lady Warriors who stayed on track for a fourth straight championship.
Panaga finished off the Lady Jet Spikers with a check ball off a quick attack that leveled their best-of-three Final Four series.
The former St. Benilde ace earlier scored on back-to-back hits to shatter the 9-all count then added another off a poor Air Force receive while Pablo scored on a drop shot and on a kill block off Iari Yongco that made it 14-10.
But Air Force, which surprised the three-time champion, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21, in the opener Saturday, refused to give up and pulled to within 12-14.
“We were really determined to play another game,” said Pocari coach Rico de Guzman.
Pablo, a strong candidate to win this conference’s Most Valuable Player award, said team effort saw them through.
“We just kept the faith and showed teamwork,” said Pablo.
BaliPure also forced a do-or-die after a 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, 18-25, 15-13 victory over Creamline in the other semifinal duel.
It was Creamline’s first loss this conference after sweeping the elimination round and winning Game 1, 25-19, 13-25, 28-26, 18-25, 15-7.
They slug it out anew at 4 p.m. on Wednesday with Pocari Sweat and Air Force disputing the other finals slot at 6:30 p.m.
Pablo finished with 22 hits, including 20 attack points, while Panaga wound up with 18.
Earlier, Cignal TV and Mega Builders arranged a duel for the men’s title. —CEDELF P. TUPAS
