Pocari Sweat-Air Force gets playoff for PVL semis after Tacloban win

Pocari Sweat-Air Force thumped also-ran Tacloban, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20, to stay in the running for a semifinals berth in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

The Lady Warriors finished with a 4-1 card in the quarterfinals but with two other teams still vying for the semifinals berth, they could only secure at least a playoff for the next round.

An 11-3 run in the middle of the third set before Amporn Hyapha’s attack error completed the sweep for Pocari Sweat-Air Force.

“Even with the win, we don’t know if we will qualify outright to the semifinals or we will have to play a playoff game,” Pocari Sweat-Air Force head coach Jasper Jimenez said in Filipino after the win at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The game between BanKo-Perlas and PetroGazz, who are also still in the race, on June 27 will determine the outcome of the quarterfinal seedings.

A win by Perlas Spikers will eliminate the Angels and give the Lady Warriors a seat in the semifinals.

If the Angels win by three or four sets, they will advance automatically and force Banko-Perlas and Pocari Sweat to a playoff for the last spot.

A five-set win for PetroGazz, meanwhile, will give BanKo-Perlas the semis spot and leave the Angels and Pocari Sweat-Air Force jousting for the last spot instead.

The Lady Warriors hammered the Fighting Warays with 47 kills. They also outclassed Tacloban in blocks, 12-2.

Arielle Love spearheaded Pocari Sweat-Air Force with 16 points while Madeline Palmer followed suit with 15 markers.

Shola Alvarez had 12 points for Tacloban. Ivan Ruiz L. Suing