MANILA, Philippines - Pocari Sweat seeks its second title this year while Customs aims to spoil it as the two clash today at the start of their best-of-three showdown for the Shakey’s V-League Season 13-Reinforced Conference crown at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Lady Warriors made it to the finals first by sweeping the Santo Tomas Tigresses in two games while the Transformers needed three to pull the rug from under the BaliPure Water Defenders and arrange an interesting series set at 6 p.m.
Bre Mackie has been carrying the Lady Warriors as of late and her 35-hit performance in the series-clinching 25-17, 24-26, 26-24, 25-27, 15-8 win over UST last week should be enough proof why Customs should be worried.
“She’s been our main weapon and I hope she keeps it up,” said Pocari coach Rommel Abella of the power-hitting Mackie.
Customs drew strength from Thai Kanjana Kuthaisong and Alyssa Valdez, who fired 20 and 16, respectively, in a heart-pounding 25-21, 25-16, 24-26, 8-25, 15-8 win over BaliPure Wednesday, but coach Sherwin Meneses is more focused on how to defend against Mackie and Pocari.
“Our concern now is how we can play against Pocari, which we all know is a strong attacking team,” said Meneses. “If we can receive and block well, we have a strong chance against them.”
In the Spikers’ Season Two-Reinforced Conference, Air Force goes for the jugular as it clashes with Cignal at 12:30 p.m.
The Jet Spikers turned back the HD Spikers, 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-27, 15-12, in Wednesday’s Game One to move on the verge of claiming their second championship this year.
Air Force also bested Cignal in the Open Conference finale early this year as it avenged the former’s finals defeat to the latter in this same conference a year ago.
A deciding Game Three, if necessary, is on Monday.
Air Force coach Rhobyl Verayo said they hope to wrap things up in Game Two.
“If we can show the same aggressiveness and resolve like in the first game, we’ll have a strong chance of getting this championship,” said Verayo.