POWERHOUSE Cignal and Petron try to formalize their entry into the semis while Sta. Lucia tries to stay alive in another explosive triple-header of the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center.
Unbeaten in four starts, the HD Spikers tip off things when they collide with PLDT Home Fibr at 2 p.m. while the Blaze Spikers clash with lowly Marinerang Pilipina at 6 o’clock. The Lady Realtors take on Foton, shooting for their third win to boost their bid of making it to the next round of the tourney that serves as a warm-up for the members of the national squad before seeing action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games this November.
After a 1-2 start, the Lady Realtors decided to shake things up, with assistant coach Eddison Orcollo being named as interim coach and coach Babes Castillo being tapped as assistant manager, replacing Santi Edralin.
The adjustment was a stroke of a genius as Orcollo, who served as assistant coach of the national men’s team in the previous biennial meet in Kuala Lumpur, steered Sta. Lucia to a masterful 14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 15-11 win over a very dangerous Generika-Ayala side last Tuesday.
With a 2-2 card, they now have a handsome chance of making it to the next round.
“It’s good that we are now able to match our wins in the previous conferences,” said Orcollo, referring to their 2-12 finish in the Grand Prix and All-Filipino early this year.
