PNP eliminates Navy for last q’final slot, Army fends off FEU in Shakey’s V-League Open
TEAM STANDINGS (End of Preliminaries)
Cagayan Valley—7-0*
Philippine Army—6-1*
Philippine Air Force—5-2*
Smart-Maynilad—4-3*
Meralco—3-4*
Philippine National Police—2-5*
Philippine Navy—1-6†
Far Eastern University—0-7†
*Qualified for quarterfinals
† Eliminated
GAMES ON SUNDAY (September 22 at The Arena, San Juan City)—Quarterfinals:
2:00PM PNP vs. Army
4:00PM Smart-Maynilad vs. Air Force
THE ARENA, San Juan City—The dynamic trio of former Thai national team skipper Patcharee Sangmuang and San Beda Red Lioness pair Frances Molina and Janine Marciano combined for sixty points as the Philippine National Police (PNP) Lady Patrolers notched its first winning streak of the season and in turn claimed the last berth in the quarterfinal round by defeating the veteran Philippine Navy squad 25-16, 25-14, 17-25, 25-21 while the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws made one last gallant stand before being subdued by the powerhouse Philippine Army Lady Troopers 25-15, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20 on the final day of the preliminary round of the ongoing Shakey’s V-League Open Conference here.
Molina had a Shakey's V-League career-high 23 points, backstopped by Sangmuang’s twenty and Marciano’s seventeen to follow up their first win of the season against FEU with another; their final outing carrying with it a ticket to the Final Six which begins on Sunday (September 22nd). The Lady Patrolers displayed cohesion and agility as the speed and power of the triumvirate could not be contained by the Lady Sailors, who finished the match with a team record low five block points. PNP Head Coach Bob Malenab also got additional mileage from former Adamson volleybelle turned policewoman Kristine Dave who contributed eight points in the win.
Navy was led by a resilient Mic-Mic Laborte who registered a team-high nineteen markers while former University of the East (UE) scoring machine Kiteh Rosale added ten in the losing effort. The numbers from the supporting cast were anemic as the usually reliable Cecille Tabuena-Cruzada and former national team mainstay Mayi Prochina could only combine for eleven extra points, while Cebu’s Abby Praca struggled with only six markers.
With the loss, the Lady Sailors join FEU on the sidelines as the two teams that failed to advance.
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For the Lady Tamaraws, teir hopes of advancing to the next round were drowned when the Lady Patrolers dealt them their six straight loss last Tuesday (September 17th). FEU was only playing for pride and were wielding the upset axe so wildly that they almost beheaded the tough Lady Troopers squad.
After taking the first two sets in convincing fashion, Army was suddenly in a war during the third set as FEU’s teenage brigade led by Bernadeth Pons and Glayssa Torres began detonating attacks in complete disregard for the defenses at the net of the Lady Troopers. The duo helped out the initial efforts of rising star center Remy Palma and later on stole the third set, 26-24, before former Queen Tamaraw Rachel Anne Daquis became instrumental in putting the match away in the fourth set for Army en route to a conference-high sixteen markers.
Daquis had only scored four points in her first two appearances combined after a long hiatus in Germany which stretched to the start of the tournament and she has been playing catch up since.
MVP candidate Jovelyn Gonzaga chipped-in twelve points while former national team stalwarts Michelle Carolino and newbie Nene Bautista threw in eight points apiece.
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With the victory the Lady Troopers climb to 6-1 in the standings and are the team with the second best heading into the quarterfinals, just behind unbeaten Cagayan Valley’s 7-0 slate. FEU exits the conference without garnering a single win, but gained so much in terms of experience points which may enable them to prosper in the upcoming UAAP Season 76 Women’s Volleyball competition where many believe that the Lady Tamaraws are a cinch to contend for a Final Four slot.
The quarterfinals commence immediately this Sunday at The Arena with carryover system in effect. I’m not aware if the league gave a “win four” incentive—which can benefit the bottom rung squads—in which if a team secures four victories in the five matches they will be playing in this single round affair, they get to challenge the fourth ranked team for a semifinals seat. I will find out on Sunday.
Big questions still loom for the first four teams that will be locking horns at the start of the quarterfinals: Will Din-Din Santiago finally play for the Net Spikers? Will Roger Gorayeb finally be unveiling his mystery foreign player in this round? Will Michelle Datuin be flung into action immediately against Army after arriving—on the same day—from Thailand? Can Air Force win its sixth straight? Have the Lady Troopers found the right blend to mesh the immense talent on their roster? Will Cagayan Valley's Thai reinforcements of Kannika Thiapchot and Phomla Soraya be rusty after a long lay off? Can Meralco address its inconsistency and chemistry issues?
The quarterfinal round is like a new season altogether. The carryover makes it tough to get a jump over the Rising Suns, but anything can happen—as FEU almost proved.
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I will be working the games this Sunday for television on GMA News TV, and chances are I will be working with Miss Cavite herself Anne Remulla (again). My guess is we will also have Miss Earth Philippines Second Princess Bianca Saldua patrolling the sidelines. If that’s so, then I must have done something god this week to be in the midst of beauty queens.
In any event, I WILL see you at SJA this Sunday. Let the quarterfinals begin.
BOXSCORES:
Philippine Army (6-1) def. Far Eastern University (0-7)—25-15, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20
PA—Daquis 16, Gonzaga 12, Bautista 8, Carolino 8, Bunag 7, Salak 6, Balse 5, Alarca 5, Sabas 5, Cruz 2, Iratay 1, Siatan-Torres (L) 0, Nunag (L) 0.
FEU—Pons 16, Palma 15, Sy 5, Torres 5, Simborio 3, Casugod 3, Bagang 2, Malabanan 1, Agno (L) 0, Basas 0, Dawson 0, Atienza 0.
Philippine National Police (2-5) def. Philippine Navy (1-6)
PNP—Molina 23, Sangmuang 20, Marciano 17, Dave 8, Concepcion 1, Labrador 1, Mia 1, Remigio 1, Tadeo (L) 0, Ogana 0, Castro 0, Enguanco 0.
PN—Laborte 19, Rosale 10, Prochina 7, Praca 6, Suson 5, Tabuena-Cruzada 4, Serafica 2, Cais (L) 0, Simbajon (L) 0, Fajardo 0, Mirabueno 0, Nebrida 0.
Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com
