Angels seek semis vs Jet Spikers

TWICE denied of a spot in the Final Four, PetroGazz tries again today but the Angels will have to hurdle an Air Force squad also in dire need of a win to fuel its own semis Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Angels looked headed to a trouble-free ride to the semis by racking up eight straight victories for a 9-2 card last week but the 10th win that would assure its stint in the next round proved elusive as the Reinforced Conference champions dropped their last two games to the Motolite and Creamline sides, enabling

to stay in the hunt for a playoff for the last Final Four seat.

That makes the Angels-Jet Spikers face-off at 6 p.m. worth watching with

their straight-set romp over the latter

Creamline, meanwhile, seeks to move closer to a rare conference sweep as it guns for win No. 14

But the Lady Troopers, in joint also be going all out to keep their slim hopes alive in the seasonending conference organized by Sports Vision.

Army and Air Force need to sweep their last three games and hope that PetroGazz (9-4) and Motolite (9-5) won’t go over nine wins to force a

Jovielyn Prado and Paneg Mercado, who combined for 26 hits in PetroGazz’s losing 1-3 stand to Creamline in Iloilo last Sunday, are again expected to lead the Angels drive along with Cherry Nunag, Jeanette Panaga and Cai Baloaloa with top hitter Jonah Sabeh also out to atone her mediocre four-hit showing the last time out.

But the Jet Spikers are also coming into the match upbeat following a four-set win over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans over the weekend that kept the former in the playoff race in the tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC. PetroGazz wing spiker Paneng Mercado avoids the blockers of Motolite during a Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.