EST Cola punched its ticket to the PVL Invitational finals on Sunday, becoming only the fourth foreign guest team to reach the championship round after taking down Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh, 25-19, 26-24, 26-24, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Thai side’s qualification also brought more clarity to a crowded race to the final.
READ: Nxled stays alive in PVL Invitational by downing Farm Fresh
By getting the win, EST Cola triggered a domino effect that officially ended defending champion PLDT’s hopes of returning to the finals.
Last year’s Invitational champions can still close out their preliminary campaign with a victory over Creamline, but it will no longer be enough to keep their title defense alive by virtue of their inferior match points even with a win.
Instead, the final preliminary match has been reduced to a straightforward equation for the teams still in the running.
Creamline will clinch the other finals berth with a win over PLDT, while a High Speed Hitters victory would send Nxled to the championship round instead.
Thai national team mainstay Papatchaya Phontham again spearheaded EST Cola’s scoring barrage with 21 points on a 42-percent attack efficiency, while Nannaphat Moonjakham delivered 18 points to go with 17 receptions.
"I feel good but I give all the credit to everyone, to the team, to everyone on the squad. Because if we didn't have receivers or setters, I wouldn't be able to hit. Yes, everyone makes up the team and it was great teamwork," Phontham said.
Nirarach Srikuta added 12 points and 12 receptions for the Thai guest team.
Bar a comfortable opening-set win, however, EST Cola was made to work for its breakthrough.
Ho Chi Minh refused to go away in the extended second and third sets, saving multiple set points in both frames before the Vietnamese side finally ran out of answers.
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