THEY also serve those who stand and wait.
The Air Force Jet Spikers are poised to gain their best finish in the Shakey’s V-League after toiling fruitlessly in the league that started it all for almost a decade.
Air Force posted a straight set, 25-20, 26-24, 26-24, victory over the Laoag Power Smashers in the opener of their best-of-three semifinal clash last Wednesday, June 29. Another win brings them to their first finals appearance.
Air Force is getting the job done despite not having a monster open spiker like BaliPure’s Alyssa Valdez or a maestro of a setter like Laoag’s Relea Saet. The Jet Spikers are doing it the hard way, through good old fashioned teamwork and a tenacious scrambling floor defense.
They also have veteran spikers Judy Ann Caballejo and Joy Cases who always find ways to score.
Air Force does not have a marquee standout player. But the team probably has the most hard-working, the most self-sacrificing group of players in Jocemer Tapic, Mae Antipuesto, May Ann Pantino, Wendy Ann Semana and Iari Yongco.
Other members of the squad include Jennifer Manzano, Yna Papa and Camille Abanto as well as liberos Mary Ann Balmaceda and Mae Crisostomo.
The Jet Spikers had to scramble to post the victory. They trailed by four in the second set before being bailed out of trouble by the power-hitting Caballejo, who responded with a series of spikes to power them back into the match.
With Air Force ahead 25-24 Caballejo scored on a service ace to steal the set for a two-set lead for Air Force.
Air Force is actually benefitting from all the attention being given to the glamor match-up between the Ateneo-powered BaliPure Water Defenders and the La Salle-infused Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors. The Jet Spikers are flying high virtually without pressure.
Air Force took a leave of absence after another disappointing fourth place finish in the 2014 Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.
They competed in various commercial leagues the next two years. After gaining experience and much-needed confidence, the Jet Spikers returned with a bang.
They opened their campaign by upending the Water Defenders in their first game and then racked up five victories against a lone defeat to clinch the top seeding in the Final Four.
Air Force coach Jeffrey Jimenez though does not want his wards to relax. He wants his player to step up their game and foil the expected Laoag fight back and then go on to the finals and the chance to win their first-ever Shakey’s V-League championship.
At the other end of the semifinal table BaliPure is leading Pocari Sweat after the Water Defenders posted a 25-20, 25-19, 26-24 in their own semifinal duel.
