HAIR Fairy Air Force hopes to rebound from its straight-set setback to Pocari Sweat the last time out as it shoots for the third semifinal berth against ousted Adamson-Akari in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today (Saturday).
The Lady Jet Spikers dropped a stinging 19-25, 19-25, 27-29 defeat to the Lady Warriors in their duel for the second semis slot last Wednesday but they remain confident of nailing the elusive berth as they face the Lady Falcons in their 6:30 p.m. clash.
Adamson, UP and the Power Smashers are out of the race with identical 1-5 cards with the last two seats being disputed by Air Force, Perlas-BanKo and BaliPure.
The Jet Spikers have the inside track to the third spot although the Lady Falcons will surely be going all out to play the spoiler’s role and at the same boost their confidence as they step up their buildup for the UAAP wars.
In contrast, Perlas-BanKo and BaliPure, tied at fourth spot at 3-3, will still have to hurdle the first two semifinalists at the close of the single round elims of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision tomorrow (Sunday).
The Perlas Spikers will take on the unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers at 4 p.m. while the Water Defenders will square off with the Lady Warriors at 6:30 p.m.
“We just need to play smart and not be overconfident against them (Lady Falcons),” said Hair Fairy Air Force coach Jasper Jimenez.
Hair Fairy Air Force is actually assured of at least a playoff for a semis berth but the Jet Spikers want to advance outright and avoid going through a sudden death.
“It’s better if we get straight to the semis and not gamble on getting in a playoff,” said Jimenez.
The Lady Maroons and the Power Smashers collide in a non-bearing game at 4 p.m.
Creamline is gunning for a rare sweep of the elims and the No. 1 spot while Pocari Sweat seeks to finish at 6-1 for the second seeding in the Final Four where the No. 1 faces the No. 4 and the Nos. 2 and 3 collide in a pair of best-of-three series.
Meanwhile, newcomer Mega Builders also try to cap its amazing stint with a sweep of the elims as it plays Air Force at 10 a.m. while Army hopes to stay in the semis hunt as it collides with also-ran Gamboa Coffee at 1 p.m. in a pair of key matches in the men’s tournament of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.
Games today
10 a.m. – Air Force vs Mega Builders (men’s)
1 p.m. – Gamboa vs Army (men’s)
4 p.m. – Power Smashers vs UP (women’s)
6:30 p.m. – Adamson vs Air Force