PLDT stops Air Force, makes Spikers' Turf semis

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Home Ultera combined solid spiking with superb blocking as it grounded an erstwhile unbeaten Air Force, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-14, to advance to the semifinal round of the Spikers’ Turf Season 1 Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan last night.

The Ultra Fast Hitters scored three straight points off the block that help anchor their win in the pivotal third then went on to dominate the Airmen in the fourth and complete their come-from-behind victory in one hour, 35 minutes.

PLDT thus closed out its elims stint with a 3-2 card as it joined its victim and idle Cignal, which finished with identical 4-1 slates, in the Final Four of the season-ending conference of the league presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Mark Alfarara went on a spiking run and finished 20 kills and came through with five blocks while Kheeno Franco, Peter Torres, Henry Peca-a and Jay Galang combined for 32 points for the Ultra Fast Hitters, who finished with 10 blocks as against their rivals’ five.

Rodolfo Labrador fired 17 points while Jeffry Malabanan and Ruben Inaudito each chipped in 11 hits for the Airmen.

Cignal scored a 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17 victory over Navy late Saturday to roll into the next phase of the tournament, backed by Mikasa and organized by Sports Vision, on Saturday.

Lorenzo Capate Jr. came away with 22 hits while Herschel Ramos and Alexis Faytaren combined for 24 points as the HD Spikers overpowered the Sailors, 57-44, in attack points that anchored their 91-minute victory.