V-League: Army battles Perpetual Help

MANILA—Top meets bottom Thursday when undefeated Army faces winless Perpetual Help, even as Ateneo tries to end a two-game slide in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Army guns for its third straight win against the Lady Altas in the 4 p.m. main game, after Ateneo clashes with Navy.

The Maynilad-San Sebastian showdown at 6 p.m. completes the triple-bill.

Relying on the core of the national team, Army has roared to two straight-set victories and will be heavily favored against a Perpetual side still looking for its first win in four starts.

Former MVPs Mary Jean Balse and Michelle Carolino have been carrying the load for Army, benefitting from the superb form of setter Tina Salak. Army has the league’s most efficient attack with a 36.67 percent success rate.

The Lady Altas will pin their hopes on Thai reinforcements Wirawan Sattayanichit and Piyatida Lasungnern, guest player April Hingpit and mainstays Arriane Argarin, Ronerry dela Cruz and Janice Abar to finally get over the hump.
Perpetual showed plenty of fight before losing to Air Force in five sets last Sunday.

Ateneo is coming off a four-set defeat to San Sebastian. The Lady Eagles, who tote a 2-2 record, are expected to have their hands full against Navy, which boasts formidable attacking players in Nene Bautista, Michelle Laborte and Suzanne Roces.

The Lady Eagles’ lead hitter Alyssa Valdez will be looking to bounce back against Navy, after struggling with just 12 points on 49 attacks in the loss to the Lady Stags.

Maynilad, which hammered out a five-set win over Perpetual Help last Thursday, is in for a tough outing against the Lady Stags.

With American reinforcement Lauren Ford slowly finding her feet in coach Roger Gorayeb’s system, the Stags have looked every bit the powerhouse team that they are in the past two games.

Ford came out strong against the Lady Eagles, exploding for 27 points, but Gorayeb said the import could still get better as the tournament goes on.

“She is still adjusting,” Gorayeb said of Ford, who has played in Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Finland. “We know she could still get better.”

Another import, Thai Jeng Bualee, also rediscovered her form against the Lady Eagles, giving the Stags more attacking teeth

The Water Dragons are riding high on their dramatic victory against the Lady Altas and will lean on guest player Joy Cases and mainstays Nica Guliman, Mervic Mangui, Beverly Boto, Margarita Pepito, Ma. Josephine Cafrance and top setter Charisse Ancheta to secure their second win.