Motolite, Air Force drub foes to boost playoff bids

Motolite zeroed in on an outright semifinals slot, even as Air Force kept its slim hopes alive after both scored contrasting wins over separate rivals Saturday night in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Motolite handily defeated BaliPure, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19, for its ninth win in 15 games to stay well inside the top four.

Later, Air Force relied on its low-key staff to boot out Choco Mucho, 20-25, 25-18, 29-27, 26-24.

Joy Cases scored 15 points to lead the Jet Spikers to their sixth win against seven defeats.

The Motolite Spikers still need to win one more to avoid playoffs against teams in the lower fold of the standings.

Motolite coach Godfrey Okumu praised his players for an all-out effort in securing their second straight victory.

Motolite stars Tots Carlos and Isa Molde joined hands in scoring 32 points, while Myla Pablo helped with eight points despite being fielded in only for two sets because of her problematic back.

The Water Defenders absorbed their 11th defeat in 15 matches.

For Air Force to make it to the next round, it has to sweep its remaining three matches and hope the squads above them in the standing lose all theirs.

The Jet Spikers’ May Ann Pantino and Del Palomata took matters into their own hands after the Flying Titans erased a match point through comebacking veteran Manila Santos-Ng.