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Pocari, Bali Pure dispute last V-League finals berth

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/7/04/070416_bali.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">&#x27;We gave our best also but definitely nagkulang nga kami.&#x27; -- Alyssa Valdez. Richard Esguerra, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/news/2016/07/02/nagkulang-kami-alyssa-valdez-semis-game-2-loss-12939">ABS-CBN Sports </a></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Pocari Sweat and Bali Pure slug it out for one last time in what promises to be another thrilling showdown for the last berth in the championship of the Shakey&#x27;s V-League Season 13 Open Conference Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.Already in the Finals are the Air Force Jet Spikers, but Pocari forced a do-or-die game for the second spot in the title round after a thrilling 25-23, 13-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-8 over the Water Defenders last Saturday at the Arena in San Juan.Game time is at 6 p.m.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/vleague/news/2016/07/02/jet-spikers-land-first-ever-finals-appearance-12933">Jet Spikers land first-ever finals appearance</a>)Myla Pablo unloaded a game-high 26 points on 23 attack points, upstaging Alyssa Valdez, who had 24 points built on 20 hits and three aces.Pocari&#x27;s net defense was superb all game long, with Siemens Dadang and Lutgarda Malaluan combining for seven of the Lady Warriors&#x27; 10 blocks, foiling and frustrating three-time UAAP MVP Valdez.&quot;We knew Bali Pure&#x27;s strong points are their outside spikers, so we focused on a way to slow them down,&quot; said Pocari coach Rommel Abella. &quot;In a way, it worked against Alyssa. We stopped her in the fifth set.&quot;Abella also cited their team&#x27;s big improvement in service and reception, a massive turnaround from their 20-25, 19-25, 24-26 defeat in Game 1 where they struggled in both departments, enabling the Water Defenders to fashion out the relatively one-sided victory.&quot;We concentrated on improving our service and receives, and we will need to do it in Game 3 for us to have a chance,&quot; said Abella.Despite the setback, Bali Pure player-coach Charo Soriano remains upbeat of their chances, but stressed the need for her wards to go back to the basics.&quot;We need to work a lot on our service and receives. That&#x27;s why our setters couldn&#x27;t do combination plays, because we couldn&#x27;t bring the ball to Jem (Ferrer),&quot; said Soriano. &quot;We go back to the basics. It&#x27;s really the fundamentals.&quot;Valdez must also find a way to neutralize the Pocari blockers, led by the veteran Dadang.&quot;I wasn&#x27;t really frustrated. It&#x27;s already given that, as a player, I should think in a snap what I&#x27;ll do during circumstances like that,&quot; said Valdez. &quot;But I wasn&#x27;t able to adjust in time.&quot;&quot;Hopefully, we – not just myself – will find a way in Game 3,&quot; she added.The Lady Jet Spikers swept the Laoag Power Smashers to advance to the finals on Saturday.Meanwhile, Cignal and Air Force open their best-of-three series for the Spikers&#x27; Turf Season 2 Open Conference crown as they face off at 4 p.m.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/vleague/news/2016/07/02/cignal-air-force-set-finals-series-showdown-12926">Cignal, Air Force set Finals series showdown</a>)The HD Spikers turned back the Sta. Elena Construction Wrecking Balls, 25-23, 25-16, 25-17, while the Jet Spikers routed the IEM Phoenix Volley Masters, 25-15, 25-21, 25-13, to complete the two-game sweep of their respective of their semifinals series.Sta. Elena and IEM duel for third place at 1 p.m.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/"> ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Pocari Sweat and Bali Pure slug it out for one last time in what promises to be another thrilling showdown for the last berth in the championship of the Shakey's V-League Season 13 Open Conference Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.