Motolite eyes crucial win

MANILA, Philippines — Motolite, fired up by its shock five-set win over PetroGazz the last time out, takes on BaliPure today, confident of its chances against a team that has nothing to lose at this crucial stage of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference elims at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Motolite didn’t only stop PetroGazz’ amazing eight-game streak last Wednesday but its 22-25, 25-13, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 victory also firmed up its hold of the hotly-contested No. 4 slot heading to the last two weeks of the double-round elims.

A victory over the also-ran BaliPure side in their 2 p.m. clash will put Motolite in step with third-running BanKo-Perlas at 9-5 for a big cushion over three other teams seeking at least a playoff for the last Final Four seat in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

They include Choco Mucho and Air Force, which will tangle at 4 p.m. in what could serve as a knockout setto with the Flying Titans (6-8) hoping to stay in the hunt and the Jet Spikers (5-7) likewise seeking to keep their slim hopes alive.

With 12 straight victories, Creamline remains the only team assured of a stint in the next round as PetroGazz missed clinching at least a playoff for the last semis berth after losing to a surging Motolite.