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Jet Spikers land first-ever finals appearance

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Mark Escarlote, ABS-CBN Sports

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/7/2/jet-spikers-070216.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Philippine Air Force swept Laoag to book a championship seat.</div></figcaption></figure></div>Philippine Air Force squandered a two-set lead and had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle to get rid of the pesky Laoag Power Smashers for a breakthrough Finals appearance in the 13th V-League Open Conference.Experience and composure brought by countless battles fought carried the seasoned Jet Spikers past Laoag, 25-14, 25-20, 19-25, 21-25, 15-10, Saturday in Game 2 to complete a sweep of the best-of-three semifinals series at The Arena in San Juan. Again, Judy Ann Caballejo showed the way for Air Force, which placed fourth two years ago in the same conference, as the former University of Sto. Tomas star smashed 19 kills with three aces and a kill block for a 23-point output. May Ann Pantino had 17 points capped by a powerful hammer to the backline to close the two-hour, seven-minute match.Head coach Jasper Jimenez said that he felt that his team got overconfident after taking the first two sets. Laoag took advantage of Air Force’s errors and awful receptions and floor defense to extend the match.“Siguro masyadong nagkaroon ng confidence kaya hindi nagtuluy-tuloy ang momentum. Yung game plan nila ay nakita yung posisyon namin sa likod. Mahina ang depensa namin sa likod at yun ang sinamantala nila. Hindi kami nakapag-adjust kaagad at nawalan pa kami ng receive sa service,” said Jimenez. “Buti na lang nakabawi kami noong fifth set.”Wendy Semana dished out 55 excellent sets for the Jet Spikers, who will face the survivor between BaliPure and Pocari Sweat in the best-of-three championship round on July 13. Laoag needed dug deep in the fourth set, overhauling a 15-18 deficit to steal the frame and force a decider.The Power Smashers actually led Air Force, 13-8, in the fourth frame before committing errors and miscues that the Jet Spikers capitalized to take a three-point lead.Air Force controlled the fifth set with a 13-9 lead after a tight start. A block on Katherine Villegas pushed the Jet Spikers at matchpoint.Mylene Paat saved a point for Laoag before Pantino game-winner.Jessica Galanza scored 20 points including 16 spikes with 16 digs and nine excellent receptions. Paat had six kill blocks for a total of 14 points while Jovielyn Prado got 13 for the Power Smashers, who will take on the loser between BaliPure and Pocari Sweat in the best-of-three battle for third.This story was originally published on the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/vleague/news/2016/07/02/jet-spikers-land-first-ever-finals-appearance-12933" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Experience and composure brought by countless battles fought carried the seasoned Jet Spikers past Laoag, 25-14, 25-20, 19-25, 21-25, 15-10, Saturday in Game 2 to complete a sweep of the best-of-three semifinals series at The Arena in San Juan.

Jet Spikers land first-ever finals appearance

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Jet Spikers land first-ever finals appearance

Mark Escarlote,

ABS-CBN Sports

Published Jul 02, 2016 08:47 PM PHT

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