By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Wednesday (The Arena, San Juan City)
1 p.m. – Air Force vs Army (Men’s)
4 p.m. – PetroGazz vs Tacloban (Women’s)
6:30 p.m. – Iriga-Navy vs Pocari-Air Force (Women’s)
Hard-hitting spikers Mark Alfafara and John Vic De Guzman put on another big show as PLDT bested Instituto Estetico Manila (IEM), 25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-20, yesterday at the start of the men’s quarterfinals in the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.
Alfafara and De Guzman combined for 40 of the team’s 60 kills as the PLDT spikers registered their first win in the round-robin phase for the remaining two semifinal slots.
The victory enabled PLDT to avenged a 14-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12 loss to IEM in the elims last May 16.
Cignal and newcomer Vice Co. earned outright semis berths after topping the eliminations, leaving the remaining four teams battling for the last two tickets.
Alfafara exploded for PLDT with 27 points that also include four aces, while De Guzman chipped in 18 points.
The PLDT Spikers also got a big lift from Henry James Pecana, who finished with 12 points.
In the distaff side, BanKo Perlas likewise picked up its first win with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 rout of Tacloban.
Top seed Creamline and No. 2 PayMaya secured the two outright semifinal berths after finishing 1-2 in the first round. The top two from the remaining six teams in the second round robin advance to the semifinals.
