Crucial PVL tiffs up as quarters begins

Games today

1 p.m. – Sta. Elena vs Army (men’s)

4 p.m. – Pocari Sweat vs Air Force (women’s)

6:30 p.m. – Perlas vs Creamline

MANILA, Philippines - Pocari Sweat tangles with Air Force while Creamline collides with Perlas for the second time in three days as they dispute the last two semifinal berths in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

With BaliPure and the Power Smashers clinching the first two outright semis seats, the third to sixth-ranked Lady Warriors, Perlas Spikers, Cool Smashers and Lady Jet Spikers slug it out for the last two Final Four slots in a single round quarters sans their records in the double-round elims.

The Lady Warriors dropped their last two matches in the elims, including a 25-19, 24-26, 25-27, 25-21, 15-6 victory last Thursday that foiled Pocari Sweat’s bid for an automatic semis seat.

Pocari actually finished tied at No. 2 at 6-4 with the Power Smashers but the latter took the other automatic semis seat with a superior point ratio.

The defending champions face the Jet Spikers again at 4 p.m. while the Perlas Spikers square off with the Cool Smashers at 6:30 p.m.

Fancied to land in the top two after a sweep of their first six games, the Lady Warriors reeled from injury woes to top hitter Myla Pablo and Bosnian middle blocker Edina Selimovic that hindered their bid for an automatic semis berth.

Pablo failed to suit up for two games in-a-row after suffering a back sprain while Selimovic is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring tear.

With Pablo still doubtful, American outside hitter Michelle Strizak, who blasted in 40 points the last time out, banners the Lady Warriors along with Jeanette Panaga, Maricar Nepomuceno, Elaine Kasilag and Gyzelle Sy.

The Lady Jet Spikers, on the other hand, hope to score a repeat over the Lady Warriors and atone for their dismal finish in the elims behind lone reinforcement Patcharee Saengmuang, Joy Cases, Jocemer Tapic and Iari Yongco.

“Hopefully, our performance (in prevailing over Pocari Sweat in five sets) will continue. We have to gain more confidence and everyone must step up. We went through a lot in the eliminations, seven straight losses and we were able to bounce back. Now we have to show that we can make it to the top four,” said Air Force head coach Jasper Jimenez.

Meanwhile, Perlas, which fell to fourth after losing to Creamline last Thursday, seeks to strike back behind Brazilian outside hitter Rupia Inck, Japanese setter Naoko Hashimoto and Amy Ahomiro.

Reinforcements Kuttika Kaewpin of Thailand and Laura Schaudt as well as Alyssa Valdez lead the Cool Smashers, who hope to cash in on the momentum of their victory over the Spikers. Creamline tallied four wins against six losses in the elims.

“We had five-setter games so it doesn’t mean that we don’t have any skills. It’s just that we need more experience and jelling. So we don’t care what the standings are. What we care about is the momentum and improvement we gain every game,” said Cool Smashers assistant coach Oliver Almadro.