Lady Warriors go for clincher, crown

MANILA, Philippines – Unless Customs comes up with an antidote to Pocari Sweat’s solid blocking, the Lady Warriors could well be on their way to hurdling the last stumbling block leading to a grand maiden Shakey’s V-League season tonight.

American Breanna Mackie and skipper Michele Gumabao unleashed a pair of 13-hit games but it was the Lady Warriors’ rock-solid blocking that anchored their surprisingly easy 25-22, 25-18, 25-18 romp over the Transformers in the opener of their best-of-three series for the Season 13 Reinforced Conference crown late Saturday.

Siemens Dadang and another American Kay Kacsits accounted for eight of their team’s 15 blocks that virtually silenced the fancied Alyssa Valdez, who was held to just 12 points, and the rest of the Transformers.

“Our strength is really in blocking. We know it’s our ticket to the championship,” said Pocari coach Rommel Abella. “Our floor defense will only react on how our blocking will go. Good thing, both worked in Game One.”

Unbeaten since dropping a five-setter to the Air Force Jet Spikers last Oct. 5, the Lady Warriors will be gunning not only for their 10th straight win in the season-ending conference but also for a second championship.

Gametime is at 6 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig with Pocari Sweat all primed up for a follow-up to its victory in the Open Conference on its very first campaign in the  league.

The league will also honor the conference’s top players before the match.

A Customs victory will force a sudden death on Wednesday.

But with the way the Lady Warriors are playing – and blocking – Customs will have to transform into one mean attacking team and break into Pocari’s defensive wall.

“The only thing that will prevent us from winning this championship is complacency. If we stay focused and not be overconfident, we’ll get this,” said Gumabao.

The Lady Warriors actually didn’t only neutralize Valdez but also Thai reinforcement Kanjana Kuthaisong, who struggled for just eight hits, herself failing to pierce into their rivals solid blocking.

With its net defense holding, Pocari Sweat virtually saw no need to step up its attack, settling to match Customs’ 30 spikes with Kacsits and Dadang chipping in seven hits apiece and Myla Pablo slowing down with just six points.