DEFENDING champion Pocari Sweat-Air Force shocked Creamline, 25-23, 25-12, 25-23, to take Game One of their best of three semifinals series in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Reinforced Conference on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Lady Warriors are playing in the semifinals as No. 4 seeds for the first time in the league and they sent a strong message on their title-retention bid by stunning the top-seeded Cool Smashers.
Imports Arielle Love and Madeline Palmer and local star Myla Pablo led Pocari’s strong charge against Alyssa Valdez and Cool Smashers, winning the match in only 71 minutes.
The Lady Warriors could advance to a fifth straight finals appearance since the defunct Shakey’s V-League if they win Game Two on Wednesday.
Love scattered 20 points on 15 attacks, four blocks and an ace. Palmer scattered eight kills, three aces and a block for 12 points, while Pablo and Jeanette Panaga had nine hits apiece.
“We’re lucky. We woke up on the right side of the bed. Everybody played well,” said Pocari Head Coach Jasper Jimenez said.
“As a team captain, I should be vocal inside the court and we, locals, have to step up. We cannot afford to rely too much on our imports,” Pablo said.
Marck Espejo, meanwhile, unloaded 20 points as Cignal beat PLDT, 25-22, 25-20, 26-24, to also move one win away from the men’s finals.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza