Games Sunday
9 a.m. – Cagayan vs Cignal
5 p.m. – PLDT vs Champion
Standings
Cagayan Valley 4 0
PLDT Home Ultera 3 1
Air Force 3 1
Cignal 3 2
Champion Infinity 2 2
Army 2 3
IEM 0 4
Fourbees-Cavite 0 4
PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Air Force and Cignal pulled off contrasting results to boost their respective semifinal drive in the Spikers’ Turf Season One Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City Thursday.
The Airmen recovered from a third set meltdown with a fiery charge in the fourth, hacking out a 25-20, 25-19, 16-25, 25-16 victory to join the PLDT Home Ultera spikers at second at 3-1.
Earlier, the HD Spikers survived a second set scare but still swept Fourbees-Cavite, 25-13, 28-26, 25-11, to notch their third straight victory after dropping their first two matches for fourth at 3-2 halfway through the single round elims of the inaugural league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.
“After a slow start, we’re starting to play the way we want to,” said Cignal coach Michael Cari-O, whose wards overwhelmed the Patriots with 50 attacks and eight blocks.
The Patriots, who drew eight markers from Berwin Coming and six points each from Chris David and Julius Sioson, took their fourth straight loss and in danger of missing the semis of the event backed by Mikasa.
The Volley Masters joined them later in the cellar after absorbing another setback despite beating the Airmen on attacks, 62-47.
Jeffrey Malabanan unloaded 14 hits, including 11 on kills while Edwin Tolentino and Ruben Inaudito scattered 12 and 10 points, respectively, to help power Air Force to victory.
Jeffrey Jimenez blasted 16 hits while Evan Raymundo and Jophius Banang fired 13 points apiece for the hardluck IEM side, which continued to seek for the elusive win after topping the inaugural Shakey’s V-League men’s tournament late last year.
Meanwhile, the IEM-Air Force clash will be shown on PTV 4 at 10:30 tonight with the Cignal-Cavite duel to be aired tomorrow, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
