BanKo Perlas strengthens semifinal bid, trips Motolite; BaliPure avoids Chef’s Classics upset

BanKo Perlas boosted its semifinals stock after beating Motolite even as BaliPure avoided becoming the first and only victim of Chef’s Classics on Saturday night in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Perlas Spikers relied on veteran Dzi Gervacio to bring down Motolite, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21, and break a two-game losing skid.

The win also solidified the Perlas Spikers’ quest for a semifinal berth as they upped their mark to 7-5 while snapping a two-game win run by the Motolite Spikers, who fell to 7-4.

In the second game, BaliPure frustrated Chef’s Classics, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 17-25, 17-15.

Grace Bombita knocked in 27 points for the Water Defenders who, like the winless Red Spikers, were already out of contention even before the game began.

BaliPure improved to 3-10, while Chef’s Classics sank to 0-13.

Gervacio topscored with 20 points for BanKo Perlas, which needed to stave off a late-charge by Motolite in the third set.

University of the Philippines stars Isa Molde and Tots Carlos tried to carry the cudgels for the Motolite Spikers, scoring four points between them as they trimmed a four-point deficit to just 22-20.

But a succession of unforced errors ended the fight for Motolite. —MARC ANTHONY REYES