Spikers' Turf 2019 Open Conference: The Leads at the Halfway Point

As the Open Conference of the 4th season of Spikers' Turf reaches its halfway mark, quite a number of fans' expectations are being turned into almost-reality with few surprises on the side keeping the guessing games exciting still. All four pools are displaying decent markers of how these tables may turn by the end of preliminaries, as only the Top 2 teams from each pool can qualify for the quarterfinal round.

Pool A: Which one team can be as hi-def as Cignal?

The first pool includes 3 collegiate squads, 2 of which are Final 4 teams from their respective major leagues. At this point, however, Adamson, despite having the most points currently in the pool with 7 and standing at 2-2, and EAC, who sports a 1-2 win-loss card, are almost praying for a miracle just to clinch a tie for a quarterfinals spot. NCBA, at 0-3, is most definitely out of contention. The two teams that may still give Cignal slight competition at the top is VNS VC and IEM, 2 clubs which finished 10th & 9th in the Reinforced Conference. The Griffins are showing a 2-0 performance, with the looming challenge of still having to face Cignal, while the Phoenix Volley Masters, after already battling the HD Spikers, stands at 1-1. The match-up between these two teams will be telling, even as Cignal faces their next assignment, EAC, gunning for a third straight win without a loss.

Pool B: Who can fly as high as Air Force Go For Gold?

Pool B is being led, fittingly so, by defending champion Air Force Go For Gold, sitting on top with a 3-0 slate. The two teams that the Jet Spikers are yet to meet are Eco Oil DLSU, with a 2-0 standing, and Ateneo, who just recently played their first match and is at 1-0. The next pool match is actually between these schools, the result of which may indicate who can keep up with Air Force. The losing team in this match-up may share the status of Easytrip Roadspikers, which currently totes a 1-1 win-loss plate. Both will have to work hard to avoid a very critical 2nd loss. The other two collegiate varsities in the pool, Lyceum and CEU, are virtually out of the running with no wins and  three losses.

Pool C: Are the Altas powerful enough for PLDT?

Many fans are calling Pool C as the "Death Pool" because the previous conferences' 3rd & 6th placers are grouped with a UAAP finalist and an NCAA defending champion. But lo and behold! It is the first pool that gave the tournament its first quarterfinalist in Perpetual, bursting out of the gate at full speed to dangle a 4-0 win-loss hand. The Altas are facing next PLDT, also undefeated with two victories in tow, and will just then sit out the rest of the eliminations watching which team between Coast Guard and Hachiran FEU, both with 1-1 slates, can avoid that worrisome second loss as both will have to fend off PLDT yet. The 3rd student team in the group, San Sebastian, are holding on to dire ropes with a 0-2 card, while the biggest surprise of all, BCDA Army, the team that almost made a late run for a final 4 spot in the previous conference, is completely out, with no chance of advancing, after going 0-4 early in the tournament.

Pool D: Who can slam as hard as Sta. Elena NU?

The last group is turning out to be the tightest pool as PNP's withdrawal turned Pool D into an almost-collegiate list, with only PG-JC Navy joining 5 school-based teams. Sta. Elena NU Ball Hammers, despite being students, are touted as pool favorites after the same line-up showed an incredibly respectable Final 4 finish in the 2019 Reinforced Conference. They are proving that by quickly flashing a 2-0 standing. The chances of NCAA teams Mapua, Arellano and San Beda are now being limited by the fact that all have suffered that dreaded 2 defeats, despite featuring in the pool's more exciting 5-setters. PG-JC Navy and UST are thus left with the task of trying to keep up with NU. They will face each other next, with the Sea Lions having an advantage with a 1-0 plate and UST treading dangerously on a 2-1 card.

Pooling the odds:

Pool A - Cignal is the safest bet for a QF top spot, IEM & VNS VC are battling for the 2nd spot, which will depend on who can beat the other and on who can avoid a collegiate upset.

Pool B - Air Force Go For Gold is going to need to push harder if it hopes to sweep the pool with Eco Oil DLSU and Ateneo still up, but their experience can make it happen. It's a 3-way fight for the 2nd spot as Easytrip can match-up with these 2 collegiate squads.

Pool C - Only PLDT can really dash Perpetual's hopes of a #1 finish in the pool. Their duel may as well determine the top rank. A win by PLDT can add that extra confidence needed to defeat Coast Guard and Hachiran FEU. A Perpetual sweep, however, can give a boost to the Dolphins and the Tamaraws.

Pool D - The match between PG-JC Navy and UST will make it easier for the pool to take its course. A Sea Lions win will just set-up them up with an all-important game with the Ball Hammers to determine the top spot. UST is on a harder task of winning against both PG-JC Navy and Sta. Elena NU.

The only prediction we can state with certainty is that the playoff rounds are going to be more exciting, as the expected entry of the Big 4, Cignal, Air Force Go For Gold, PLDT and Sta. Elena NU, is still way on its course. The current path may seem to point to the inclusion of 2 more collegiate squads in the quarterfinals, though, and that is a celebration worthy enough for this "combined" "two-in-one" tournament as most of the school-based team are making good accounts of themselves in giving commercial clubs a run for their hard-earned places.