PLDT guns for semis slot in PSL

Games today

2 p.m. – PLDT-MyDSL vs Cagayan (w)

4 p.m. – RC Cola vs Petron (w)

6 p.m. – Systema vs Giligan’s (m)

MANILA, Philippines - Pacesetter PLDT-MyDSL is poised to formalize its semifinal entry today while three other teams jockey for quarterfinal positions in the women’s division of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) Grand Prix at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

A dangerous Cagayan Valley stands in the way of the Speed Boosters who will try to close their elimination round campaign on a high note, targeting a fifth straight win in as many days at 2 p.m.

The Rising Suns, with three wins against a loss, could not be taken lightly. They have performed well in the last invitational conference and are tipped to figure in the last four this time.

Newcomer RC Cola and Petron clash at 4 p.m, with each team trying to capture a better position in the quarterfinal round that starts next week.

In the men’s side, Giligan’s Restaurant battles Systema at 6 p.m. in a do-or-die semifinal match of this tournament organized by Sports Core and recognized by the International Volleyball Federation with Asics, Mikasa, LGR, Jinling Sports as main backers and Solar Sports as official broadcast partner.

The winner between the Sisig Kings and Active will face the survivor between top seed PLDT-MyDSL and Maybank in the finals of the first and only inter-club volleyball tournament in the country.

But all eyes are expected to be on the Speed Boosters – especially on their comely American imports, European circuit veterans Kaylee Manns and Savannah Noyes.

After falling short in the maiden conference, PLDT-MyDSL paraded a heavily revamped lineup and hired a seasoned tactician in Roger Gorayeb and a pair of hard-hitting American reinforcements in Manns and Noyes in a more serious bid for the crown this time.

Everything paid off for them as the Speed Boosters racked up four consecutive wins, enough to capture an outright semifinal berth via a superior quotient over their closest pursuers, TMS-Army (4-1) and Cagayan Valley (3-1).

“We have the luxury of playing relaxed on Sunday,” said Gorayeb following an impressive 25-13, 24-26, 25-18, 25-20 win over RC Cola last Friday. “But still, we have to do our best because our opponent, Cagayan, is expected to come out strong. It will give us a preview of what to expect in the semifinals.”

Gorayeb noted that Cagayan’s prolific Thai imports, Wanida Kotruang and Patcharee Saengmuang, as well as locals like Aiza Maizo-Fontillas and Pau Soriano are expected to give them a good, tough workout which they badly need in preparation for the next round.

“We will be ready,” he said. “We will plug the loopholes on our defense and try to avoid too many turnover on offense.”

A victory by the Rising Suns will put them in a three-way tie with PLDT-MyDSL and TMS-Army with a 4-1 card at the end of eliminations.

The Lady Troopers, however, are expected to take the second semifinal seat on a superior quotient following an emphatic 25-5, 25-18, 25-20 demolition of Cignal last Friday, pitting Cagayan Valley against the loser of the encounter between winless RC Cola and Petron in the quarterfinals.

The winner between the Raiders and the Blaze Spikers, on the other hand, faces the HD Spikers in the next round.

“We have to work hard to avoid a tough team like Army or Cagayan in the next round,” said Petron coach Villet Ponce-de Leon. “RC Cola is also a tough team. It is a veteran team. We have to contain their spikers and tighten up our floor defense if we want to at least stand a chance.”