Instituto moves a win away from V-League men’s finals

Games Wednesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

4 p.m. - Army vs Cagayan (women's)

6 p.m. - IEM vs FEU (men's)

MANILA, Philippines – Instituto Estetico Manila found a way to neutralize Rizal Technological U's speed and power as it hammered out a vengeful 25-14, 25-22, 25-16 victory Tuesday to move one win away from barging into the finals in the men's division of the Shakey's V-League Season 11 Third Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

Jeffrey Jimenez paced his team with 13 hits, including nine on kills as the Volley Smashers joined the Systema Active Smashers at the helm with identical 3-1 (win-loss) records.

Another win by Instituto over Far Eastern University Thursday will clinch it a place in the best-of-three championship in the first ever men's tournament being done by Shakey's V-League in its 11-year existence.

"We're a step away from our goal, which is to make the finals first and hope for the best from there," said Instituto coach Ernesto Balubar.

The Volley Masters also exacted revenge on the Blue Thunder, who pulled the rug from the former with a marathon 25-22, 25-27, 12-25, 29-27, 15-11 win in their first meeting on Oct. 12.

RTU fell to 1-3 (win-loss), the same slate of FEU.

Another loss will automatically eliminate the two from the race.

Balubar said they're prepared hard to get back on their first round tormentors.

"The first time we played them, we haven't really practiced that much," said Balubar, who also coaches NCBA in the collegiate ranks.

"But since them, we really worked hard on our conditioning as well as our system," he added.