Rizal flaunts semifinal form

Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation primed up for the semifinals while AM Caloocan Air Force made a graceful exit against separate foes at the close of the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) eliminations Wednesday night at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.

Rizal made short work of Valenzuela Classy, 25-23, 25-14, 25-12, to head on to the next round on a high note while Caloocan pummeled winless WCC Marikina, 25-5, 25-7, 25-7.

Eleven players racked up the scoring board led by Joann Faeith De Guzman with 10 points as Rizal finished its campaign at fourth place with an 11-5 slate.

Rizal had the same record with the No. 3 Biñan Tatak Gel 1-Pacman Partylist but with a lower 30 points based on sets won and lost entering the Final Four of this tourney founded by former Senator Manny Pacquiao.

New but formidable team Quezon Tangerines, who topped the two-round elims at 12-2 for a twice-to-beat bonus, stand in the way of Rizal as the No. 2 seed Bacoor (12-4), which ruled the inaugural but shorter edition, sports the same incentive against Biñan.

The much-anticipated semis will fire off on Monday at the Bacoor Strike Gym.

Meanwhile, Rhea Manalo fired nine points to lead a balanced attack as Caloocan finished with a 9-7 slate for the consolation fifth place.

Lilet Mabbayad had seven points for Valenzuela (4-12) while Brigitte Martinez scored five for Marikina (0-16) as they placed eighth and ninth, respectively.