Lady Warriors try to stop Perlas run

MANILA, Philippines - Perlas tries to firm up its hold of second spot as it tangles with a surging Pocari Sweat while Creamline collides with the Power Smashers in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Perlas Lady Spikers, who struggled past the Power Smashers, 29-31, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 21-19, in last Saturday’s marathon duel to wrest No. 2 at 2-1, gear up for a fierce duel with the Lady Warriors, who snapped an early two-game skid with a 25-22, 25-14, 25-22 win over the Air Force Lady Jet Spikers, also last Saturday.

Gametime is at 4 p.m.

“We had a sense of urgency that we didn’t want to be down 0-3,” said Pocari coach Rommel Abella. “We hope this will serve as our platform heading to the next game, that we will not let up just because we won one game. We will just build from what we did right in our victory.”

Abella hopes to draw another solid outing from main player Myla Pablo, who is out to duplicate or surpass her 23-hit effort against the Jet Spikers, and from Elaine Kasilag, Maricar Nepomuceno, Jeanette Panaga, Desiree Dadang and Gyzelle Sy as they likewise prime up for a keenly awaited match with Creamline on Thursday.

But the Lady Spikers are out to sustain their own surge and stay second behind the unbeaten Water Defenders (3-0) with coach Jerry Yee expected to bank on his former UP aces Kathy Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon and former Ateneo standouts Dzi Gervacio, Amy Ahomiro, Ella de Jesus and ace setter Jem Ferrer.

Alyssa Valdez and Creamline, in solo third at 1-1, also gear up for their next big match as they take on the Power Smashers (1-2) at 6:30 p.m.

The Cool Smashers bounced back from a shock four-set loss to Perlas in the inaugurals of the 14th season of the league backed by Mikasa and Accel with a straight-set romp over Air Force, putting them on track.

Valdez, who has churned out a 46-hit output in two games, is again expected to lead Creamline although she expects to draw support from veterans Ivy Remulla and Pau Soriano along with Aurea Racraquin, Coleen Bravo and former Ateneo teammate Aeriel Patnongon.