Bacoor Lady Stirkers’ Cyrille Almeniana during a MPVA game. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Bacoor captured the last twice-to-beat berth in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association semifinals after outlasting San Juan, 25-8, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, on Monday night at Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.
The Strikers sealed the second seed with a 12-4 record to steal the last semifinal bonus from third-running Biñan Tatak Gel (11-5) after double-round elimination in the league founded by former senator and also MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao and organized by the Volleyball Masters of the Philippines.
Cyrille Joie Alemeniana poured in an explosive outing of 26 points in front of their home crowd to earn their fourth straight win ahead of the semis.
READ: MPVA: Bacoor closes in on twice-to-beat with rout of Marikina
Alemeniana drilled 24 kills and two aces. She was backstopped by Jemalyn Menor, who unleashed 17 points.
Bacoor needed to overcome a narrow second-set loss with Camille Bustamante and Winnie Bedana also contributing with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Strikers, winner of the inaugural but shorter edition, will face No. 3 seed Biñan in the semis.
READ: MPVA: Bacoor claims last semis slot, sweeps Valenzuela
No.1 seed and twice-to-beat Quezon (14-2), meanwhile, takes on the fourth-running Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation (10-5) in the other semis pairing.
San Juan dropped to a 6-10 card in sixth place.
Meanwhile, also-ran teams ICC Negros and AM Caloocan scored graceful exits after wins over semifinalists Quezon and Rizal, respectively.
Andrea Caparal fired 17 points in Negros’ 25-22, 25-22, 25-12 stunning win over Quezon to finish in seventh place with an improved 5-11 record.
Iari Yongco-Quimson erupted for 27 points as Caloocan drubbed Rizal, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 28-26.
Caloocan sealed the fifth place with an 8-7 record with still a game left against the winless Marikina.