PLDT-Air Force asserts might, thrashes HD in PSL men’s finals

MANILA, Philippines – PLDT-Air Force showed Cignal why they are the reigning kings of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL).

The Power Attackers, beefed up by members of the national squad that placed seventh in the Asian Men’s Club Championship, used an array of offensive plays to make short work of the HD Spikers, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 in the one-game finals of the 2014 PLDT Home DSL PSL All-Filipino Conference at the packed Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Saturday.

The Jasper-Jimenez-mentored squad thus set the bar with the victory that capped off an historic nine-game sweep in the country’s premier club tournament organized by Sports Core and supported in part by Mikasa, Asics, Mueller Tapes, Jinling Sports Equipment, LGR, Bench and Healthway Medical with Solar Sports as broadcast partner.

“Lahat naman ng games may pressure lalo na at championship pa ito, buti na lang at na-overcome namin ang pressure first set pa lang. Advantage lang kasi nasa akin ang members ng national team,” said Jimenez, who gave the Power Attackers their second PSL crown after ruling last year’s Grand Prix with Francis Vicente at the helm.

“Mga idolized players kasi nasa team namin. Sa Cignal may mga favorite players sila na member ng team ko kaya may intimidation factor na din siguro. Nakita ko lang na gumalang sila sa mga players ko,” added Jimenez, who duplicated their straight-sets 25-18, 225-22, 25-20 win over the HD Spikers in the second round.

 Jimenez also guided the same squad to win the gold medal in this year’s Philippine-Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Philippine National Games.

PLDT dictated the tempo early in the match anchored on the power-hitting duo of top most valuable player candidate Alnakran Abdilla and Jeffrey Malabanan and in the process muzzled Cignal’s main spikers Jay dela Cruz and Gilbert Ablan, who were given little room to operate.

The title was within the Power Attackers’ reach when it enjoyed a 23-18 lead but the HD Spikers came up with three straight points to give the Jimenez some anxious moments.

PLDT moved to match point on a reception miscue by Cignal as Edmar Sanchez and Glacy Diezmo simultaneously went for the ball, which went out.

Alinsunurin then sealed the win as he tricked the HD Spikers’ defenders with a drop ball.

Abdilla paced PLDT with 18 points on 15 kills and two blocks while Malabanan added nine kills. Best Libero frontrunner Raffy Mosuela had nine excellent digs and 10 receptions.

Dela Cruz was Cignal’s top scorer with 10 behind eight attacks and two blocks.

In the battle for third, veterans Su Roces and Rubie de Leon helped PLDT to a 25-17, 18-25, 25-18, 25-23 win over rookie team AirAsia Zest.