RC, Air Asia part ways; PLDT guns for No. 4

MANILA, Philippines — Smarting from a loss each, RC Cola-Air Force and Air Asia try to bounce back when they face each other in the women’s division, while men’s top team PLDT-Air Force guns for win No. 4 Wednesday in the Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference volleyball at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The RC Raiders hit the ground hard after suffering their first defeat at the hands of the Dindin Santiago-led Petron last Sunday.

The Air Asia Flying Spikers suffered the same fate and saw their winning streak thwarted by a newly rebuilt Generika Army squad.

The Raiders and the Flying Spikers jostle for the No. 2 position in the 2 p.m. game.

RC coach Clarence Esteban said they need to make key adjustments, particularly in reception, which proved to be the telling factor in the Raiders’ shocking 22-25, 13-25, 24-26 defeat to Petron.

“We don’t have (solid) reception,” said Esteban. “There was one time that Dindin served 10 straight times and we couldn’t do anything. Everybody’s spirits were down.”

Unlike in their previous three victories, the Raiders were visibly overwhelmed by the Blaze Spikers’ spin-loaded serves and quick kills.

That’s something the Flying Spikers could employ against their foe today considering their star-studded lineup that includes Micmic Laborte, Cha Cruz, Stephanie Santiago and sensational rookie Abby Marano.

Air Asia, the new team that took the league by a storm with a 2-0 start, was caught flat-footed by Generika-Army (20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-25) in a loss coach Ramil de Jesus blamed on an 18-day layoff.

“It did us more harm than good,” said De Jesus. “But this time we are ready. We need to be up and ready all the time.”

The Raiders will lean on Maika Ortiz, Judy Ann Caballejo, Rhea Dimaculangan, Jocemer Tapic and rookie Iari Yongco.

Both ends meet in the men’s division as leader PLDT-Air Force clashes with winless Via Mare at 6 p.m. System and Instituto Estetico Manila square off earlier at 4 p.m.