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[av_heading heading=’ Pocari ousts Air Force, enters V-League finals ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors rallied back from two sets down to score a 16-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-10 win over Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers in the 2017 Premier V-League Open Conference semifinals at the San Juan Arena.
Myla Pablo led the way with 22 points for the defending champion Lady Warriors, which will face Bali Pure Water Defenders in the best-of-three championship series starting tonight.
Heather Guino-o added 14 markers while Jeanette Panaga contributed 13 points for the Lady Warriors.
The Warriors will be shooting for its fourth straight championship in as many conferences in the league.
Unlike in their first three title runs, the Lady Warriors have to sweat it out to make a return trip to the finals stage after losing the first two sets to the much aggressive Jet Spikers.
Its title-retention bid nearly vanished late in the third set with the score deadlock at 23-all. Guino-o then converted two consecutive service aces to extend the match.
After forcing a fifth set, the Lady Warriors uncorked a huge 11-7 start behind Pablo and Guino-o. The Jet Spikers tried to rally back but an error by them followed by a Guino-o attack ended the match.
“Sa tema ng laro, sa first and second set wala kaming first ball, parang wala kaming gana,” said Lady Warriors head coach Rico de Guzman. “Mabuti na lang at nag iba ang tema nung next three sets.”
Mary Ann Pantino finished with 16 points, while Iari Yongco and Joy Cases had 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Jet Spikers, which will face Creamline Cool Smashers in battle-for-third place match./PN
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