Shakey’s V-League Open q’finals: Ateneo sweeps with squeaker over NU, Cagayan Valley loses anew
QUARTERFINALS TEAM STANDINGS:
Philippine Army 6-3*
PLDT Home Telpad 6-3*
Philippine Air Force 5-4**
Ateneo de Manila University 5-5**
Cagayan Valley 4-5
National University 2-8†
*Assured of Semis
**Assured of Playoff for semis
†Eliminated
GAMES ON THURSDAY (August 14th at The Arena, San Juan City)
2:00PM – Cagayan Valley vs. Philippine Air Force
4:00PM – Philippine Army vs. PLDT Home Telpad
THE ARENA, San Juan City—Ateneo “phenom” Alyssa Valdez matched her season-high with 32 points while freshman Bea de Leon had a career-high sixteen markers as the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) accomplished an improbable sweep of the quarterfinals via a 26-28, 25-19, 16-25, 25-16, 15-7 riveter against the already ousted National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs even as defending champions Cagayan Valley fell yet again, this time at the hands of PLDT Home Telpad 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference here.
Valdez also registered a career-high six blocks and matched a career-high in service aces by notching seven in an all-around effort worthy of an MVP—which she is the UAAP. She also excelled on floor defense helping a struggling Lady Eagles libero Den-Den Lazaro with fifteen “excellents” (9 excellent digs, 6 excellent receptions).
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But the usual brilliance shown by the 21-year-old Batangas lass was uncharacteristically outshone by the inspired showing of the seventeen-year-old Poveda High School product de Leon as she went practically head-to-head against NU’s 6’6” cornerstone Jaja Santiago. De Leon—inserted as a regular starter sans injured veteran quicker Aerieal Patnongon—was on the receiving end of several masterful sets from sophomore setter Jia Morado and the first year player did her part, especially in the crucial fourth set to send the match to the full route.
On the Lady Bulldogs’ side, wingers Myla Pablo and Rizza Mandapat churned out their best combined performance of the tournament by combining for 31 points—including five block points from Pablo. It would have been enough to backstop yet another sizzling performance from Santiago—who amassed a team-high eighteen markers—but the error-stricken fourth set all but deflated NU and were not able to recover from the Lady Eagles’ onslaught. The Lady Bulldogs had almost nothing left in the tank in the fifth set as Ateneo claimed the first quarterfinal sweep in recent memory and more importantly assured itself of at least a playoff for a semifinals berth—or maybe even got a hard-earned direct route to the Final Four. I will explain in a bit.
The feat the Lady Eagles pulled off was akin to the climb they made during this year’s UAAP playoffs wherein they had to rise from adversity and claim the title by winning six matches—four of which were of a do-or-die nature. While their road to the title this time may take s longer and much more harrowing route, Ateneo has already sent a strong message that regardless of where they may appear to be, they are always within striking distance and now looked poised—depending on the outcome of Sunday’s final double-header—to do the same in the higher level.
Ateneo probably drew inspiration from the result of the first tiff of the day as the Rising Suns got shellacked by PLDT Home Telpad, keeping the defending titlists winless in the quarterfinals.
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Cagayan Valley was involved in a three-way tie heading into the quarterfinals with a carryover record of 4-1 (same with Army and the Turbo Boosters) and had been the first team this year to have beaten the Lady Troopers with superstar setter Tina Salak on the Army line-up. That feat made many believe that the Rising Suns were already peaking at just the right time for an imminent title defense.
They are now on a downward spiral and have the upcoming showdown against the Philippine Air Force left to salvage at least a playoff for the last semis slot.
Reception woes forced Cagayan Valley into a multitude of difficult situations as starting playmaker Gyzelle Sy struggled to distribute properly. Rising Suns Head Coach Nes Pamilar tried various combinations, but just could not find one that clicked. By the time skipper Angge Tabaquero found her groove, the others just could not perform consistently.
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It was almost the complete opposite for PLDT Home Telpad as MVP candidate Suzanne Roces got all the support she needed from her wing spikers to control the tempo of the match. Roces—a two-time league MVP now making a serious bid for a third—scored a game-high 21 points, while openers Louann Latigay and Gretchel Soltones combined for 22 more points. Latigay is actually still nursing a right ankle sprain she sustained in the loss against the Air Spikers but Roces’ splendid play had her contribution to be more than ample for the victory.
The win catapulted the Turbo Boosters to the semifinals to join idle Army at six wins—the magic number for a seat in the Final Four. Cagayan Valley must now stave off an unceremonious exit from the tournament by winning against PAF in their final match this Sunday.
The points and quotients may come into play in determining the resolution of ties, but the league has made it clear that there will be no eliminations on paper. Meaning, in case of a tie for the fourth slot ratios and quotients will not be applied. There will be a playoff. But who will be involved in that playoff—if ever?
Let’s check out the points race and other pertinent numbers heading into Sunday:
The way things stand now, here are the possible scenarios:
1. Cagayan Valley beats Air Force in straight sets (3-0)—creating a three-way tie for fourth: Cagayan Valley claims the third seed in the Final Four (despite their horrendous quarterfinals) and Ateneo-PAF contest the last semis slot on Tuesday because Cagayan Valley (despite being tied with Ateneo on points) will have a better sets won/lost ratio.
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2. Cagayan Valley beats Air Force in four sets (3-1)—still creating a three-way tie for fourth: This will now depend on the points won/lost and the overall ratio. If Cagayan Valley can amass a lot of points in this scenario, then it will still be an Ateneo-PAF playoff. But, if the scoreline of Cagayan Valley in the four set win looks anywhere close to: 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23, then Ateneo could win the quotient battle and claim the third semis berth while PAF and Cagayan Valley lock horns anew on Tuesday. This is the scenario that holds the most variables.
3. Cagayan Valley beats Air Force in five sets (3-2)—still creating a three-way tie for fourth and a tie for third in the points race: This would tie PAF with Ateneo in terms of points, but will allow Ateneo to escape with the third seed as the Lady Eagles will have the edge in terms of the ratio (sets won/lost). That would mean that PAF will take on Cagayan Valley for the fourth slot.
4. Air Force beats Cagayan Valley, regardless of nature: PAF claims the third seed while Ateneo snatches the last ticket to the Final Four. Cagayan Valley will then be dethroned.
I haven’t even mentioned about the fact that the PLDT-Army match also has a major bearing because the number one seed has yet to be determined and there’s still a chance (if PAF defeats Cagayan Valley), that the Ladt Troopers may even drop to the third spot and Air Force may even claim the second seed. That’s all still up in the air.
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So on Sunday, everything will be known. Will we have a playoff or not? If so, which teams will be involved? Who will claim the top spot? Questions, questions, questions…
BOXSCORES:
PLDT Home Telpad def. Cagayan Valley – 25-21, 25-22, 25-21
PLDT—Roces 21, Latigay 12, Soltones 10, Devanadera 6, C. Soriano 6, R. de Leon 1, Gata-Pantone (L) 0, Benting 0.
Cagayan Valley—Maizo-Pontillas 15, P. Soriano 9, Tabaquero 9, Eulalio 5, Marciano 5, Benito 5, Sy 1, Vargas 1, Pineda (L) 0, Saet 0.
Ateneo de Manila University def. National University – 26-28, 25-19, 16-25, 25-16, 15-7
AdMU—A. Valdez 32, B. de Leon 16, Gequillana 9, Ahomiro 7, Morente 6, Morado 3, Lazaro (L) 0, Tan 0, Derder 0.
NU—Santiago 18, Madapat 16, My. Pablo 15, Dadang 12, Perez 9, Singh 4, General (L) 0, G. Valdez 0.
Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com
