BaliPure nips Perlas in PVL

BaliPure squandered a two-set lead but fought back from four points down in the decider and hacked out a 25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 25-27, 15-10 victory over Perlas to bolster its semifinal drive in the Premier Volleyball League at the Philsports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Veteran Thai import Jaroensri Bualee took over in the fifth, hammering five of her 16-hit output, including three straight that put the Water Defenders back on top at 7-6. Perlas forced another tie in the next play but the Water Defenders took eight of the last 11 points, including a Grethcel Soltones’ dink that finished off the Perlas Spikers.

Import Jennifer Keddy topscored for BaliPure for 24 hits while Aiko Urdas and Risa Sato combined for 23 markers for the Water Defenders, who produced 62 attack points, 11 more than the Perlas Spikers.

But Perlas came up with 12 blocks against BaliPure’s nine and had more aces, 7-4.

BaliPure thus swept its weekend matches, including a sweep of Air Force Saturday, pooling a 6-2 card and firming up its bid for one of the two automatic semifinal berths in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision along with the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors.

Perlas dropped to 5-4 but remained at third although it will face Creamline in the final elims playdate on Thursday.

Creamline was playing with the Power Smashers at presstime, looking for a 4-4 card and the hold of No. 4.

Meanwhile, the league changed its format in the middle of the tournament with the top two teams after the double round elims advancing to the Final Four with the next four to dispute the two other semis berths in a round-robin quarters.