Three teams make their respective Spikers’ Turf debuts while three others seek to rebound from opening game setbacks as action in the Invitational Conference resumes on Friday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Jericho Fajardo and the St. Gerard Construction-Benilde Blazing Builders kick off their campaign against Rudy Gatdula and Philippine Coast Guard Lifesavers at 1 p.m. in Pool C play, while Don Pacundo-La Salle-Dasmariñas and D’Navigators Iloilo face off at 3 p.m. with each side trying to get untracked after dropping their respective Pool A matches last week.
The Alpha Omega Elite Spikers and the Xentro Mall Generals, on the other hand, wrap up the three-game bill at 5 p.m. in a duel of debuting squads in Pool D.
The Lifesavers dropped their initial match to the Davies Paints-Adamson side, 25-19, 25-22, 25-14, with Aidam Adam and Lerry Francisco expected to lead the team against the Blazing Builders after scoring eight points apiece the first time out.
The La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots also yielded a 25-19, 25-18, 25-20 result to the fancied Fudgee Barr-Ateneo squad while D’Navigators Iloilo dropped a five-setter to Philippine Army, 21-25, 25-14, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12, last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Razzel Palisoc and John Daniel Diwa are tipped to carry the scoring load for the Elite Spikers against the Ruther Abor-led Generals in the season-ending tournament of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Bola.TV, Beyond Active Wear, ASICS and Mikasa.
Games can be streamed live on SpikersTurf.ph and Pilipinas Live and telecast on OneSports and OneSportsPlus.