Smashers foil Jet Spikers, keep Final Four bid alive

Games tomorrow (Filoil Flying V Center, San Juan) 10 a.m. – Air Force vs Café Lupe (men’s) 1 p.m. – Air Force vs Pocari Sweat (women’s) 4 p.m. – Power Smashers vs BaliPure (women’s) 6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Perlas (women’s)

The Power Smashers continued to live up to their name as they slammed past the Air Force Jet Spikers, 25-23, 1625, 25-20, 25-23, to bolster their bid for an outright semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center last night.

Riding the crest of their five-set reversal of the fancied Creamline Cool Smashers last Saturday, the Power Smashers dominated their rivals behind another imposing performance from Thai import Kannika Thipachot and an endgame savvy that thwarted the Jet Spikers’ series of rallies.

The win was the Power Smashers’ fifth against four losses as they tied the Perlas Spikers at third, just behind the second running Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors as they battle for the top two slots heading into tomorrow’s final elims playdate.

BaliPure, which was playing Creamline at presstime, is barely on top with a 6-2 mark.

The top two teams will gain outright semis entry while the other four will dispute the two other Final Four seats in a single round robin quarterfinal series minus their respective elims records.

Despite the victory, Power Smashers coach Nes Pamilar was far from being satisfied.

“I wasn’t satisfied with the way they played. They took it easy. It seemed like they took their opponent lightly so they relaxed. A lot of my instructions weren’t followed,” said Pamilar.

The Lady Jet Spikers tied the count twice down the stretch in the fourth, the last at 23 on an off-the-block hit by Iari Yongco.

She, however, made an error and Jovelyn Prado scored off a block to wrap up the one-hour, 38-minute victory.

The ICTSI Philippine Masters gets under way today with the elite field all geared up for a fierce battle for what used to be an esteemed title on the pro circuit and on a course so tricky it could deceive even the veterans in the fold.

The Villamor layout measures up to 7,000 yards and though it is expected to yield low scores given the current form of the competing field, it could still pose a challenge with its tight fairways, thick roughs and unpredictable putting surface.

“You just can’t take Villamor for granted. It could yield low scores but it could also punish those who commit even the slightest mistake,” said Robert Pactolerin, an old hand at the military layout with a number of titles tucked under his belt, including this one which used to rank high in the local golf circuit.

But Clyde Mondilla, who beat Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuña by one to win the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship, is eyeing to match or better his impressive 22-under 266 feat last week on a course whose make-up is so similar to where he honed his talent and skills.

“Villamor is like Del Monte, the fairways, the grass and the surface. So I feel like I’m playing right at home,” said Mondilla.

The event actually marks the return of what used to be one of the country’s version of four majors with Cassius Casas topping the last Masters in 2000, nipping Pactolerin in sudden death.