Speed Boosters seek 3rd vs Cagayan side

Games today  (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City)

2 p.m. – RC Cola vs Petron

4 p.m. – Cagayan Valley vs PLDT

6 p.m. – Giligan’s vs Maybank

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT-My DSL and Cagayan Valley hope to close out their failed bid in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) Grand Prix on a high note as they duel for third place at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.

The erstwhile unbeaten PLDT-My DSL was ambushed by first conference runner-up Cignal HD, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21, 25-27, 14-16, while Cagayan bowed to the Invitational tournament champion TMS-Army 15-25, 20-25, 17-25, in the semifinal round last weekend.

Those setbacks relegated the Speed Boosters and the Rising Suns to a battle for third set at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. clash for fifth place between Petron Blaze Spikers and winless RC Cola Raiders. 

PLDT-My DSL coach Roger Gorayeb admitted the loss was painful for the powerhouse team, which took its first defeat in six matches, but vowed to finish the GP on a positive note.

“It’s painful to lose that important game and we have nobody else to blame but ourselves,” said Gorayeb. “We’ll just try to at least finish third.”

Gorayeb will again lean on PLDT’s American duo of Savannah Noyes, who posted 26 points in that losing effort, and setter Kaylee Manns, along with local mainstays Suzanne Roces, Charo Soriano and Angela Benting to duplicate their 25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 26-24, victory over the Lady Rising Suns in the preliminary round of the event organized by Sports Core and recognized by the International Volleyball Federation with Mikasa, Asics, LGR and Jinling Sports as main backers and Solar Sports as broadcast partner.

Cagayan Valley finished fourth last conference and will try to close its campaign a notch higher behind Thai reinforcements Wanida Kotruang and Patcharee Saengmuang. Katruang will have to regain her form, however, as she managed to score a measly 10 points while Saengmuang went scoreless in their semis game.

“We’ll try to improve from our last conference’s finish,” said Cagayan Valley coach Nes Pamilar, who will also try to squeeze more effort from locals Angeli Tabaquero, Aiza Maizo and Pau Soriano.    

Giligan’s Sisig Kings, meanwhile, will face at 6 p.m. winless Maybank Tigers in the battle for third in the men’s division.

Finals is set on Saturday with TMS-Army gunning for a repeat against the HD Spikers, while PLDT-MY DSL Speed Boosters tangle with the Systema Active Spikers for the men’s title.     

The Finals matches will be aired live simultaneously over TV-5 and Solar Sports Channel.