HD Spikers target PSL Final 4 vs Raiders

Games today (Malolos Convention Center)

1 p.m. – Philips Gold vs Meralco

3 p.m. – Cignal vs RC Cola-Air Force

MANILA, Philippines – Action in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix women’s volleyball shifts to Malolos, Bulacan today with Cignal hoping to check its skid and shoot for the second semifinal berth against struggling RC Cola-Air Force at the Malolos Convention Center.

The HD Spikers seek to tie defending champion and early semifinalist Petron at 6-2 with a victory over the RC Cola spikers in their 3 p.m. clash while Philips Gold, toting a 4-2 slate, is tipped to get past winless Meralco in their 1 p.m. clash.

It will be the league’s first “Spike on Tour” in this conference after making stops in Cebu, Ilocos Sur, Muntinlupa, Biñan, Imus and Quezon Province.

“This is part of our mission of bringing world-class volleyball action closer to the fans,” said PSL president Ramon Suzara, adding that the next Spike on Tour will be held in Lipa, Batangas next weekend.

Tickets are still on sale at the venue.

Cignal impressed a lot when it swept its first five games in the premier inter-club tourney presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Mueller, Senoh and Mikasa as technical partner and TV5 as official broadcaster. But the HD Spikers lost their momentum in the second round, losing to the Petron Blaze Spikers and the Foton Tornadoes before the league took a seven-day break last week.

That dropped Cignal to second as Petron took its familiar lead role by beating Meralco, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21, last Thursday to nail the first semis berth.

“We may have peaked early, but it’s still a long way to go,” said Cignal coach Sammy Acaylar. “We just have to rediscover our focus and trust each other both inside and outside the court. All teams are strong. We have to bring our A-game if we really want to reach the championship.”

RC Cola-Air Force, however, is going all-out to foil Cignal’s bid for a Final Four seat.

Puerto Rican Lynda Morales and American import Sara McClinton are expected to raise the level of their game and inspire the rest of the locals as the Raiders try to stay in the semis race.

Aside from Morales and McClinton, Verayo will also bank on Singapore Southeast Asian Games veterans Maika Ortiz and Rhea Dimaculangan as well as Wendy Semana, Judy Caballejo and Iari Yongco.