Pocari, Banko set sights on playoff slots

Defending champion Pocari Sweat-Air Force and BanKo-Perlas zero in on playoffs berths for the semifinals on Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at Filoil Flying V Center.

BanKo clashes with BaliPure at 4 p.m. while Pocari battles ousted Tacloban in the 6 p.m. main match.
Third-running PetroGazz (2-1), trailing BanKo (3-0) and Pocari (3-1), hopes to create a three-way gridlock at the end of the quarterfinal round when it takes on also-ran Iriga-Navy at 2 p.m.

In case of a three-way tie, the club with the best quotient advances while the other two dispute the last spot.

Among the three frontrunners, the Perlas Spikers have the tougher assignment in the youthful Water Defenders.

Coach Dong dela Cruz said his team tends to relax after building comfortable leads. He will again lean on imports Jutarat Montripila and Lakia Bright and the locals headed by Amy Ahomiro.