PLDT-PAF, Cignal spikers out to seal S’Liga title duel

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT-Air Force and Cignal eye victories against separate foes today to formally seal their titular showdown in the men’s division of 2014 PLDT Home-Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference volleyball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Unbeaten in seven games, the mighty Power Attackers are expected to overcome their last assignment in Systema at 6 p.m. while the HD Spikers clash with Instituto Estetico Manila at 4 p.m., looking to cement their hold on the second spot and gain the right to challenge PLDT-Air Force in the kill-or-be killed championship duel on Saturday.

Meanwhile, emotions are expected to rise and tempers to soar when Petron and Cagayan Valley troop back to the war zone to avenge their bitter quarterfinal defeats in the classification match of this competition organized by Sports Core with Solar Sports as the official broadcast partner.

Action starts at 2 p.m. with the survivor between the Blaze Spikers and the Rising Suns claiming fifth place in the women’s division of the country’s premiere inter-club tournament supported by PLDT Home DSL and backed by Mikasa, Asics, Mueller Tapes, Jinling Sports Equipment, LGR, Bench and Healthway Medical.

The Blaze Spikers and the Rising Suns are still licking the wounds of their heart-crushing setbacks in the quarterfinals.

Billed as one of the strongest teams after netting the 6-foot-2 Dindin Santiago in the first-ever PSL rookie draft, the Blaze Spikers raced to three consecutive victories before suffering twin losses in the preliminaries that relegated them to a quarterfinal battle against dangerous PLDT Home TVolution.

But the Blaze Spikers ran out of gas as the Power Attackers peppered them with relentless attacks and covered them with a defensive net to deal them with a shocking 25-16, 21-25, 18-25, 22-25 loss.

“Hindi kami naka-adjust sa depensa nila,” said Petron coach George Pascua. “So, babawi na lang kami sa battle for 5th (place) against Cagayan Valley. May isang laro pa. Doon na lang namin ibuhuhos lahat ng frustrations namin. It’s now or never for us.”

The Rising Suns will also treat this game as an all-out war for pride and redemption.

In fact, after winning only two games in six matches, the seasoned Cagayan Valley was tipped to dominate the younger, inexperienced AirAsia side in the quarterfinals. But the Rising Suns fell prey to the incredible energy of the Flying Spikers down the stretch, leaving them battered in a dramatic 25-16, 25-16, 16-15, 17-25, 13-15 defeat that was witnessed by a sold-out crowd.

“Masakit ang pagkatalong ‘yun sa amin,” said Cagayan Valley coach Nestor Pamillar, who will bank anew on the troika of Angeli Tabaquero, Pau Soriano and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas. “Dahil dun, mas pine-pressure namin ang sarili namin na makuha ang fifth place. Kaya dapat mas ayusin pa namin ang atake at reception namin dahil hindi madaling kalaban ang Petron.”

Aside from Santiago, Pascua is looking for Mayette Zapanta, Sandra Delos Santos and the charming Gretchen Ho to come up with an impressive performance to somehow give the Blaze Spikers a graceful exit despite another heart-breaking season.