BaliPure, Power Smashers enter semis

MANILA, Philippines -  The Power Smashers dominated early qualifier BaliPure, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19, to clinch the second outright semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last night.

Thais Kannika Thipachot and Hyapha Amporn and Arellano star Jovelyn Prado towed the Power Smashers to their third straight triumph to tie the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors, who earlier bowed to the Air Force Lady Spikers, at second at 6-4.

The Power Smashers, however, edged the Lady Warriors after logging a higher point ratio and secured the second outright semis seat as Creamline foiled Perlas, 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-14, later in the night.

The Water Defenders took the first semis berth with a 7-3 card despite their setback to the Power Smashers.

The third to sixth ranked teams will figure in a single-round quarterfinals sans their elims records for the last two semifinal slots.

“I explained to my players, especially to the locals, our situation. If we wanted to enter the top two, we have to work hard. I give more credit to the locals as they really strived hard for us to win in straight sets,” said Power Smashers coach Nes Pamilar whose charges bucked the absence of UST’s Alina Bicar and Dimdim Pacres due to their final exams.

The Power Smashers banked on a 4-0 closing spurt after nearly blowing a 19-14 edge in the first set, held on in the second frame behind two hits by Thipachot that sandwiched a BaliPure save, and coasted to a 20-8 lead in the third set. They thwarted the Water Defenders charge, led by Thai Jaroensri Bualee, who fired six points to cut the Power Smashers’ lead to five, 24-19.

Thipachot finished with 19 points while Amporn and Prado chipped in 10 points apiece for the Power Smashers.

Bualee punched in 18 points while American Jennifer Keddy added eight for BaliPure which committed 27 miscues, 13 more than the Power Smashers.

Earlier, the Lady Jet Spikers snapped a seven-game skid as they pulled off a shock 25-19, 24-26, 25-27, 25-21, 15-6 victory over the defending champion Lady Warriors.

Air Force came out with guns blazing, taking the first set and breaking the game wide open in the last two to notch their second win in 10 games.