AN explosive showdown awaits fans of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference as the BaliPure Water Defenders and defending champion Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors are locked in a do-or-die match this Thursday (June 15) at 6 p.m. to determine the Reinforced Conference champions in the inaugural PVL season.
The match will air live from the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan on S+A, S+A HD on cable TV, and via livestreaming on premiervolleyballleague.com.
The Water Defenders kept their championship hopes alive as they staved off elimination beating the Lady Warriors last night 25-15, 26-24, 24-26, 24-26, 15-13 to force Thursday’s rubber match. Pocari Sweat took the series opener last June 10 in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24.
Expected to lead the fight for the Lady Warriors in their quest to keep the crown is new import Krystal Rivers, along with compatriot Michelle Strizak, and Pocari’s local ace, Myla Pablo. For the Water Defenders, leading their charge to defeat their rivals are Grethcel Soltones and imports Jennifer Keddy and fan-favorite Jaroensri Bualee.
Meanwhile, Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers swept the Power Smashers in two games to finish with a bronze medal. Prior to the game, Valdez was crowned the conference MVP, giving her a boost as she towed the Cool Smashers to a great finish in their maiden conference with the help of imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt.
In the Men’s Division, the Cignal HD Spikers overpowered the Philippine Air Force Jet Spikers in a masterful sweep of the championship series in two games. Mark Alfafara and Rex Intal scored 17 points apiece in the deciding match to stave off Bryan Bagunas’ 23-point output for the Jet Spikers.
Joining Valdez, also the league’s 1st Best Open Spiker, in PVL’s first batch of individual awardees are Grethcel Soltones (BaliPure, 2nd Best Open Spiker), Risa Sato (BaliPure, 1st Best Middle Blocker), Jeanette Panaga (Pocari Sweat, 2nd Best Middle Blocker), Melissa Gohing (Pocari Sweat, Best Libero) Dimdim Pacres (Power Smashers, Best Opposite Spiker), and Jasmine Nabor (BaliPure, Best Setter).
Over at the men’s side, Ranran Abadilla (Air Force) ran away with the MVP after dealing with knee injuries the past two years. Completing the individual awardees were: Mark Alfafara (Cignal, 1st Best Open Spiker), Fauzi Ismail (Air Force, 2nd Best Open Spiker), Jayvee Sumagaysay (Army, 1st Best Middle Blocker), Greg Dolor (IEM, 2nd Best Middle Blocker), Edward Camposano (Sta. Elena, Best Opposite Spiker), Vince Mangulabnan (Cignal, Best Setter), and Rence Melgar (IEM, Best Libero).
The PVL has been making waves in its inaugural season, where it introduced the innovative multi-cam livestream that allows viewers to choose the angle form which to watch the games online. The hashtag #PVLonABSCBN also trends on social media frequently every game day, along with words and hashtags related to the tournament.