Pocari rips BaliPure, gains V-L lead share

MANILA, Philippines - Breanna Lee Mackie put in another fiery performance as Pocari Sweat overpowered BaliPure, 25-16, 12-25, 25-21, 21-19, last night to firm up its drive for No. 1 in the Final Four of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Lady Warriors bounced back from a lethargic second set stint with a sweep of the next two, taking the third frame on a strong start and wrapping up the one-hour, 29-minute encounter with a strong finishing kick in the fourth anchored on Mackie’s 23-hit output, including 21 attack points.

It was Pocari Sweat’s fifth straight win after dropping a five-setter to Air Force last Oct. 5 and it tied the Lady Warriors in the lead with the idle UST Tigresses heading to the final elims playdate of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s on Nov. 2.

Interestingly, Pocari and UST will clash in the final game at 6 p.m. with the winner taking the No. 1 seat in the Final Four for a best-of-three duel with the No. 4 team. The Nos. 2 and 3 squads will clash for the other finals berth.

BaliPure actually put up a superb net defense that netted them 10 blocks, twice more than its rival, but the Lady Warriors proved relentless with their attacks, producing 48 attacks points, 10 more than the Purest Water Defenders.