PROVINCIAL teams Laoag and Iriga seek crucial victories against separate rivals as they try to stay in what has become a wild chase for the last semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City on Saturday.
Laoag appears to have a lighter assignment in winless Baguio, while Iriga need to hurdle unbeaten leader Pocari Sweat to keep its flickering semifinals hopes alive.
But the Lady Oragons may face a depleted Pocari side, as the power-hitting pair of Michelle Gumabao and Myla Pablo remains doubtful starters for their 4 p.m. encounter, to be shown live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23.
Gumabao, who averaged 18 hits in the Lady Warriors’ first three victories, is suffering from an abdominal pain, while Pablo, who normed 14 points, has back spasms. Their stint is a game-time decision, according to Pocari Team Manager Eric Ty.
Despite the duo’s absence in their last game against Baguio, Pocari still fashioned out a 25-18, 25-17, 25-15 romp last week, with Rossan Fajardo, elder sister of La Salle star Kim, and Marciar Nepomuceno stepping up with 15 and 12 hits to power the Lady Warriors to the semifinals of the season-opening conference of the league, sponsored by Shakey’s, with a 4-0 card. With a 1-3 mark, Iriga must sweep its last three games to stay in the hunt for a playoff for the last semifinals berth in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.
Laoag, meanwhile, aims to bounce back from a heartbreaking 26-28, 23-25, 17-25 setback to BaliPure last Monday and remain in semifinal contention as it takes on Baguio, winless in four outings.